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comK'K.irr iiin'osiT. 



HISTORY PRIMER 



BY 



Oscar Gerson, Ph. D. 

Central Manual Training High School, Philadelphia 



AND 



Melvin Hix,B. S., B. E. 

Principal of Public School 3 1 , Queens Borough, 
New York City. 



e^ 



PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK 

HINDS. NOBLE & ELDREDGE 



[library of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

OCT 16 1906 

I « Cooyrieht Entry 
CLASS A ^<="< '*"' 
COPY B. 



Copyright, 1906, by 
HINDS. NOBLE & ELDREDGE 



PREFACE. 



In the elementary schools throughout this country, the 
general custom has been to postpone the study of history until 
the fifth or sixth year of the course. History is not entirely 
neglected in the earlier grades, but is taken up very informally. 
Even in the first grade our national holidays are made the 
occasion of ^simple exercises and oral lessons. The lives of 
our national heroes furnish considerable story material which 
is used to awaken patriotism as well as to arouse an interest 
in the history of our country. 

It has seemed to the authors that by the third or fourth 
year of school yfe it would be a distinct benefit to the pupil 
to have some of this historical material arranged in simple, 
interesting and somewhat connected form. This History 
Primer is an attempt to do this as well as to furnish a book 
which will sei've as a transition to the more formal study of 
history in the higher grades. 

In accordance with universally accepted educational prin- 
ciples, the biographical method of treating the subject has 
been followed. The chronological sequence has been adhered 
to as far as possible, but has necessarily been subordinated to 
the biographical treatment wherever it conflicted with the 
latter. 

The controlling idea in the mind of the authors has not 
been to furnish merely a text for study, but rather to awaken 



iv PREFACE. 

an interest in history and to arouse a spirit of patriotism ; in 
other words, to continue with the aid of a book, the lessons 
furnisiied in the earlier grades by means of holiday celebra- 
tions and oral instruction. These earlier lessons supplied 
valuable subject matter for language instruction, and it is 
hoped that this History Primer may provide interesting 
material for more extended exercises of the same nature. 

Throughout the book an attempt has been made to keep 
the language as simple and clear as possible, and to eliminate 
from consideration the discussion of to2)ics beyond the com- 
prehension of pupils of the third or fourth year of school. 
The age of the pupil has also been carefully considered in the 
important matters of ty[)Ography and illustration. 

It is hoped that whether the book be used as a history 
reader, as a basis for language work, or as a text for study, it 
will awaken an interest in history and serve as an attractive 
introduction to the later and more formal study of the 
subject. 

O. G. 

M. H. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



CHAPTER 

I. — CHRISTOrHER CoLUMBUS 1 

II. — How THE New World got Its Name 13 

III. — Ferdinand Magellan 15 

IV. — The Indians 19 

V. — Sir Walter Raleigh . 27 

VI. — John Smith 31 

VII. — The Story of the Pilgrims 37 

VIII.— Henry Hudson. The Settlement of New York . 46 

IX. — William Penn and the Friends 52 

X, — How the English Colonies became the United 

States 58 

XI. — George Washington ^^ 

XII. — Paul Revere's Ride and the Battle of Lexington 77 

XIII. — The x\merican Army at Valley Forge 81 

XIV. — Betsy Ross and the American Flag 85 

XV. — The Story of Ly'dia Darrah 90 

XVI. — Benjamin Franklin 94 

XVII.— Stephen Girard 100 

XVIIL— The Story of Slavery 104 

XIX. — The Story of Abraham Lincoln 109 

XX. — Memorial Day 118 

XXL— Old Ways and New 120 

Appendix. — Patriotic Selections 133 

V 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



CHAPTER I. 
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 

1. Ideas about the World before America was 
Discovered. — In olden times the people did not know 
much about the world in which they lived. Between 




Showing- Parts 

Known before 

Columbus. 



400 and 500 years ago the people who lived in the 
lands far across the ocean did not know that there 
was such a country as America. 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



In those days they had no steamships, and their 

sailboats were not so hirge 
and strong as the big ships 
we have now. The sail- 
ors were afraid to no a 
great distance from shore. 
They believed that far out 
on the ocean there were 
horrid sea serpents and 
other strange creatures 
that would attack their 
ships. 

They did not know that 
the earth was round. 




Boats of Those Days (from old 

Pictures). 



They thought that it was 
flat, and they were afraid 
that they might fall off the 
edije if thev sailed too far. 
There were some wise 
men who did not believe 
these stories. They be- 
lieved that although the 
earth looked flat, it was 
really round like a ball. 
One of these wise men 
was named Christopher 
Columbus. 




CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 




4 HISTORy PRIMER. 

Columbus was a brave man. Tie was not afraid to 
sail across the ocean. His daring voyage is really 
the beginning of the history of our country. Every 
American boy and girl ought to know something 
about the life of this great man and the story of his 
discovery of America. 

2. Early Life of Christopher Columbus. — Clnisto- 
pher Columbus was born nearly ii\e hundred years 
ago in Genoa, a city on the sea-coast. 

When Christopher was a little 1)oy he was fond 
of watching the ships. He liked to listen to the 
stories that the sailors told. He often wished that he 
could o'o with them on their vovai>-es to other countries. 
His fatherand motlierwerewoolcombers. Christopher 
did not like this trade l)ut Avanted to be a sailor. 

^Vlthough his parents were ])oor, they sent Christo- 
pher to school. He studied geography and liked to 
draw maps. 

Columbus was so fond of the sea that lie became 
a sailor when he was only fourteen years old. He 
made many voyages and became a captain when 
quite a young man. The vessels he sailed in some- 
times had figlits with ])irate ships. 

Columbus was also made captain of warsliips. 
He wQU";rinany sea fights because he was such a l)rave 
leader. Once after fighting all day his sln"p was set 
on fire. He jumped from his burning Aessel into the 



CIIKISTOPIIER COLUMBUS. 5 

sea. With only an oar to help him, C^olnmbus swam 
all the way to shore, a distance of six miles. 

Cohmibus found time to study many books on 
geography. He talked with sailors who had made 
long- voyages. The things he learned made him feel 
sure the earth was round, although most people in 
those days believed it was flat. 

3. Columbus in search of Help. — There was a rich 
country in the East named India. People who wished 




Columbus' Ships. 

to trade with this country had to travel a long dis- 
tance over sea and land. The journey was not only 
long but also dangerous. Columbus was sure that 
the earth was round and he thouo-ht he could find a 
short way to India by sailing west across the ocean. 
Columbus wanted to get some ships so that he 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



could sail across the ocean to India. Nobody was 
willing to help him. Most of the people laughed at 
his plans and some thought that he was crazy. The 
few people who believed as Columbus did were not 
willing to lend him their ships. They were afraid they 
might be wrecked or lost far out on the unknown sea. 
But Columbus felt sure he was right. He had made 
up his mind to sail across the ocean. In spite of many 
disappointments he kept on trying to get the ships. 

After waiting many years Columbus at last got 
help from Ferdinand and Isabella, king and queen of 
Spain. They fitted up three small ships and made 
him captain of the fleet. He had a hard time to find sail- 
ors to go with him. They were afraid to risk their lives 

on the dano-erous vova^e 
Columbus was going to 
make. 

4. The Voyage.— On 
a bright summer morning 
(August 3, 1492) Colum- 
bus set sail with his three 
ittle ships, the Nina, the 



^^^N"^''') 




inta and the Santa Maria. 
There were tears in the 



Columbus. 



eyes of many of the sailors 
as the boats left the shore. They feared they would 
never see their homes again. 



CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 7 

When the ships got out of sight of land the sail- 
ors grew more and more afraid. As day after day 
passed and no land came into sight the sailors begged 
Columbus to turn back. He tried to quiet their fears 
and told them to trust in him. 

As time went on the sailors became angry and 
disobedient. When Columbus refused to turn back, 
some of the men threatened to throw him overboard. 
Columbus would not change his course, and he made 
the men obey his orders. 

5. The Discovery of Land. — iVt last signs of land 
began to be noticed. Some land birds iiew past the 
ships. Branches of trees and pieces of wood floated 
by. One of the men picked up a carved stick from 
the water. 

The sailors now felt sure that land was 
near. They were no longer afraid to go ahead. 
Every man kept a strict look out. Columbus 
had promised a prize to the one who would first 
see land. 

Columbus stood on the deck keeping watch 
during the night. He was the first to see a light 
moving in the distance and so won the prize 
himself. 

Soon after Columbus saw the light, a gun was 
fired from one of the other ships. This was a signal 
that land was in sight. The next morning (October 



8 JIISTORY 1»R1MEK. 

12, 1492) a beautiful island could be seen a few miles 
away. 




lr^,^_^^^ 



Columbus on the Lookout for Land. 



6. The Landing of Columbus. — The ships an- 
chored near the island. (\)hunbus and his captains 
dressed tliemselvcs in their finest clotlies and were 
rowed ashore. 

When they reached the land they fell upon their 



christophp:r columbus. 9 

knees, kissed the earth and gave thanks to God. 
Tliey then raised the royal banner as a sign that they 
ckiinied the kind for the King and Qaeen of Spain. 
7. The People Columbus Found.— The people 
living on the island were surprised when they saw 
the ships coming towards the shore. They had 
never seen sail boats before, and some of them 




Native Huts as Columbus Found Them. 



thought the ships were big birds that had flown down 
from heaven. They were scared at first and hid in 
the woods. 

By and by they gained courage enough to draw 
near to the strange people who had landed on their 
shore. Columbus and his men were the first white 



10 



HISTORY PKLMP]R. 



people they had ever seen. The natives wore ahiiost 
no clothes and had copper-colored skins. They 
were filled with wonder at the white skins and 
fine clothes of the strangers. 

Columbns gave them presents of glass beads, red 
caps and other trifles. They were as pleased with 
these thino-s as little children are with new 
toys. 

Colnmbns thought the island was a part of India, 
so he called these naked red men Indians. 

8. The Mistake Columbus Made.— But Columbus 
had made a mistake. He was still thousands of 



Paradise 




The Earthly 

The Earth as Columbus 

Thougrht it (Pear 

Shaped). 



miles from India. He did not know that another 
broad ocean would have to be crossed before he could 
reach that country. Columbus never found out that 
he had really discovered a new continent — America. 



CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. H 

9. Columbus Returns to Spain. — Columbus 
cruised about auiong the West India islands trying 
to find the mainland of India. He discovered the 
island of Cuba. He thought it Avas })art of Asia. 

One of his ships, the Santa Maria, was wrecked 
near the island of Havti. He used the timber of the 
wreck to build a fort there. He left about forty of 
his men in charge of the fort and set sail for Spain 
in the Nina. 

After a long and stormy voyage he arrived at 
Spain. He had been gone more than half a year. 

The people received him with great joy. They 
listened with wonder to the story of his voyage and 
discovery. Thej were astonished at the sight of the 
Indians, the strange animals and the rare plants 
which Columbus had brouo^ht back with him. Those 
who before had laughed at him now bowed down 
before him. 

The King and Queen of Spain gave a fine parade 
in his honor. Every body now praised Columbus 
and spoke of him as a great man. 

10. Later Voyages of Columbus. — Columbus 
made three other voyages to the new world. He did 
not succeed in finding the gold and silver which the 
people of Spain expected him to bring l)ack. They 
were greatly disappointed. They blamed Columbus 
and treated him very badly. 



12 HISTORY PRIMER. 

11. Last Days of Christopher Columbus. — 

Coluinbus was now poor and had lost his friends. 
His best friend, (^ueen Isabella, had died and the 
Ivino- would not help him. 

His last days were full of sorrow. He died at the 
age of seventy. His body was taken from Spain and 
buried in one of the islands of the West Indies wdiich 
he had discovered. 



CHAPTEE 11. 

HOW THE NEW WORLD GOT ITS NAME, 



12. Americus Vespucius Explores Coast of South 
America. — Columbus died without finding out that 
the land he had discovered was really a new conti- 
nent. Other men made voyages to the new world but 
they also thought it was part of Asia. 

One of these men was a friend of Christopher 
Columbus. His name was Americus 
Vespucius. He made a voyage to 
what we now call South America and 
sailed for many miles along the 
coast. He wrote letters telling about 
the wonderful thino;s he had seen. 
These letters were printed in Europe 
and many people read them. 

13. The Naming of the New 
Continent. — About that time a German professor wrote 
a geography. He said that the land which Americus had 
discovered was really a new continent. He thought 
that it ought to be named after Americus. Many other 
people thought so too. In this way the name Amer- 
ica was given to the new world. At first the name 
was given to South America only, but later it was 
used for North America also. 




Americus Vespucius. 



13 



14 



HISTOKY FKIMER. 



Many people think that the name shoukl have 

been C^ohimbia after 
Cohinibus wlio really 
discovered it. In 
some son^s and 
poems the name Co- 
lumbia is used. But 
the name America 
has ])een used so loner 
that it is not likely 
it will ever be 
changed. 

The maps of the 
New World that were 
printed after the dis- 
co \'ery of America 
seem very queer to 
us indeed. T hey 
show how little the 
explorers of those 
days really k n e w 
about the great con- 




FTRST MAP OF THF SEW VOKLD 

WITH TIIK NAMK 

AMERICA 

APPLIED TO BOTH CONTl>iENTS 
Mcrcator IWl 



tinent that^had been discovered. 

By the time America recei^ ed its name, more had 
been learned about the new country, and better maps 
of it were made. 



CHAPTER III. 

FERDINAND MAGELLAN. 

14. Trying to Find a Passage Way Through 
America. — For some years after the new world had 
been discovered and named, people still believed it 
Avas near the shores of India. They wished to find 
a passage way through which they could sail to India. 

(3ne of the men who tried to do this was named 
Ferdinand Magellan. Like 
Columbus he was a bold 
sailor. When he made up 
his mind to do anything he 
would never give up. 

15. Magellan Finds aWay 
to the Pacific Ocean. — He 
started from Spain as Colum- 
bus had done. He sailed 
across the Atlantic Ocean 
and alono; the coast of 

South America. At last he discovered a strait 
near the southern end of the continent. This 
is the only passage way through America that has 
ever been discovered. It has been named after him 
the Strait of Magellan. 

15 




Ferdinand Magellan. 



16 



IIISTOKY PKIMEK. 



After sailing through this strait the sailors found 
themselves upon another broad ocean. Magellan 
named it the Pacific Ocean because it seemed so 
peaceful. 

16. Magellan Crosses the Pacific Ocean.— It took 



Jfe '5 




Fight between Explorers and Natives. 



many weary weeks to cross the Pacific Ocean. The 
sailors had not enough to eat and drink. Many of 
them fell sick and died. Some would not obey 
Magellan's orders. 



FERDINAND MAGELLAN. . 17 

In spite of all, Magellan would not turn back, 
and at last they reached the shores of Asia. This 
was the land which Columbus thought he had dis- 
covered. 

17. The Death of Magellan.— Magellan and his 
men landed on the shores of some islands that are 
now called the Philippines. They set up a cross and 
gave presents to the savage people they found there. 
But these people were not friendly like the Indians 
Columbus had met. There was a bloody fight be- 
tween the natives and the sailors. Magellan and many 
of his men were killed. 

18. What the Voyage Proved.— A few sailors es- 
caped in one of the ships. They kept on sailing 
west and at last reached Spain. They had been 
gone three years. 

Five ships with 250 men had started out. One 
ship and 15 men were all that returned. They were 
the first to sail all the way around the world. 

This great voyage proved that America was a new 
continent and not a part of Asia, It also proved 
that the earth is really round. The ship had kept 
on sailing west all the time and came back to the 
place it started from. 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE INDIANS. 



19. White Men make Homes in America. — After 
awliile the people of Europe gave up tlie idea of find- 
ing a short pas|sage way through America to India. 

They now tried to 
find out more about 
America itself. 

Some bold sailors 
m a d e voyages t o 
America in search 
of gold and silver. 
Other men wished to 
m ak e homes f o r 
themselves in the 
new world. They 
brought their fami- 
lies with them, cut 
down trees, built 
houses and started 
to fiirm the land. 
20, Troubles 
with the Indians. — The Indians who lived on this 
land were at first friendly with the white people. But 

18 




An Indian. 



THE INDIANS. 



19 



thej became angry when tliey found the white men 
were drivmg them from their hunting grounds. 
Before very long there were bloody wars between 
the Indians and the whites. 

21. What the Indians looked like. How they 
Dressed. — The Indians were large and strong. They 
had copper-colored skin and straight, black hair. 




Incliun Wig-warns. 



The women wore their hair long. The men shaved 
their heads but left a little tuft on top. They called 
this the scalp lock. ''■/ 

Their clothes were made of the skins of deer and 
other animals. Thev wore a kind of shoe made of 
buckskin. They called them moccasins. They were 



20 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



good for hunting. The Indians could sneak through 
tiie woods very quietly in them. 

In winter the Indians fastened 
large, flat snow shoes on their feet. 
With these shoes they could walk 
upon the snow without sinking in too 
deep. 

22. Wigwams and Canoes. — The 
Indians lived in tents 
called wigwams. The 
wiffwams were made of 
skins and bark stretched 
on a frame-work of poles. 

Fires Avere sometimes 
built on the earthen floor 
of the wigwams. There 
was no chimney. The 
smoke found its Avay 
out through an opening 
at the top of the tent. 
When the Indians moved 
from one place to 
another, they carried 
their wigwams with 
them. 

The Indians made 

Snow Shoes. light, StrOUg CaUOCS out Indian Weapons. 






THE INDIANS. 



21 




of the bark of the birch tree. They paddled them 
swiftly and quietly over lakes and rivers. The 
canoes were so light that they could be easily picked 
up and carried around dangerous rapids. 

23. Weapons and Tools. — Before 
the white men came to this country 
the Indians had uo guns. They used 
bows and arrows. The strings of the 
bows were made from the sinews of 
animals. The heads of the arrows 
were made of sharpened pieces of 
hard stone. Feathers were fastened to 
the other end of the arrows to make them 
go straight. 

They did not know anything about 
iron, so all their tools and weapons 
were made of stone. They made a 
kind of hatchet called a tomahawk by 
tying a large piece of sharpened stone 
to a strong wooden handle. In war 
throw the tomahawk at their enemies. 

24. Indian Warfare — The Indians were good 
fighters. They painted their bodies and faces so as 
to make themselves look as fierce as possible. When 
they killed a man in battle they tore off his 
scalp. The Indian who had taken the largest num- 
ber of scalps was thought to be the greatest warrior. 



A Tomahawk. 



they would 



22 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



The Indians were brave but cruel. They thought 
men should be able to stand great i)ain Avithout cry- 







J^ 






Indians Torturing' White Man. 



THE INDIANS. 



23 



ing out. When they captured an enemy they 
would cut or ])urii him, or torture him in 
other cruel Avays. If he cried out they would 
make fun of him and call him a "woman" or 
'' squaw." 

25. How the Indians Lived. — The Indians got 
most of their food by hunting 
and fishing. Some of the tribes 
planted and raised corn. They 
also grew tobacco. The Indians 
taught the Avhite men how to 
raise corn. They also taught 
them to smoke tobacco.. 

The Indian men did the hunt- 
ing and fighting, but the farming 
and all the other hard work was 
done by the women. AATien an 
Indian village moved to another place, it was the 
women who took down the wigwams and carried 
them and all their other goods to the new camping 
ground. The women then set up the wigwams 
again while the men sat by idly watching them. 
This seemed strange to the white men who would 
have been ashamed to allow women to do this kind 
of w^ork. 

An Indian baby was called a papoose. A 
papoose was so bundled up that it could hardly 




Squaw and Papoose. 



24 



HISTORY rRlMER. 



move. Tt was carried strapped to its mother's back 

so that the woman's hands were free. 

20. Picture Writing.— The 
Indians couhl not write but they 
could draw pictures pretty well. 
When they wanted to write a 
k'tter they used pictures instead 




Indians in Canoe, Fishing-. 



of words. This })icture writing 
woukl be hard for you or me to read but the 
Indians could understand it. 



THE INDIANS. 25 

Some Indians once gave William Penu a belt 
made of beads. It had on it the picture of an 
Indian and a white man, hand in hand. This 
was the Indian's way of writing that they 
and the white men were to be good friends. 



Penn's Belt. 



27. Government and Religion A number 

of Indian families living: top-ether formed a 
tribe. Each tribe had its chief. The chief was 
always one of the strongest and bravest men 
of the tribe. The people obeyed his orders 
and he was their captain or leader in times 
of war. 

The Indians worshipped a Great Spirit. They 
also believed in evil spirits. They thought that 
when a brave warrior died he went to the Happy 
Hunting Grounds. They buried his bow and arrows 



26 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



with him. Thev thouaht he would need them iu the 
Happy liuiitiiig Grounds. 




Indian Pipe. 



CHAPTER V. 



SIR WALTER RALEIGH. 

28. Raleigh Sends Ships to America. — Walter 
Raleigh was a young Englishman. He thought that 
America ought to be 
settled by people from 
England. Queen Eliz- 
abeth was at that time 
ruler of Enoland. She 
was very friendly to 
Walter Raleiffh and 
helped him to carry out 
his plans. 

Raleigh sent out 
ships to try to find a 
good place for a settle- 
ment. When the cap- 
tains of the ships came back to England they told 
interesting stories about the new country. 

Queen Elizabeth was so much pleased with what 
Raleigh had done that she made him a knight. He 
was then called Sir Walter Raleigh. 

27 




Sir Walter Raleigh. 



28 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



The part of America which Ilaleigh's men had 

visited was named " Virginia" iu honor of Ehzabeth 

the vira'in (unmarried) queen. 

- 29. The First 

Settlement Fails. 

— II a 1 e i <j,- h after- 
wards sent t w o 
shi])s Avith over a 
hundred men to 
America. The men 
landed on an island 
near what is now 
Ncu'tli Carolina. 
T h e y wanted to 
make lionies for 
themselves liere. 

But these men 
were lazy and did 
not like the hard work of making- a living in a new 
country. In less than a year they grew so tired of 
it that they all sailed hack to England. 

30. Potatoes and Tobacco Brought to England. 
— When the settlers went back to their own country, 
they took with them two plants that the people 
of England liad never seen before. These ])lants 
were potatoes and tobacco. The people found that 
potatoes were good to eat. The farmers raised many 




Queen Elizabeth. 



SIR WALTER RALEIGH. 



29 



potatoes and people soon wondered how they had 
ever gotten along without this useful vegetable. 




Servant Throwing' Water on Raleigrh. 



At first the people did not know how tobacco was 
used. One day as Sir Walter Raleigh sat smoking 
his pipe, a servant came into the room. He thought 



30 HISTORY PRIMER. 

Sir Walter was on fire and poured a pitcher of water 
over him. 

Many people did not Hke tobacco, but it soon be- 
came the fashion to smoke it. 

31. Failure of Second Settlement — Although 
the first settlement was a failure l\aleigh would not 
give up. He now sent out more shi})s with more 
than a hundred men, women and children on board. 
They settled in the new country. 

Their governor, John White, left them here and 
sailed to England. Three years later he came back 
to the settlement. Not a man, woman or child could 
be found. Nobody knows to this day what became 
of thein. Perhaps the Indians killed them or perhaps 
they starved to death. 

32. Raleigh's Last Days — When (Jueen Eliza- 
beth died Sir Walter llaleigh lost a good friend. The 
new ruler of England, King James I, treated Raleigh 
very badly. He put liim in prison and some years 
later ordered liim to be beheaded. 



CHAPTER VI. 



JOHN SMITH. 

33. John Smith Sails For Virginia — Sir Walter 

Raleigh had failed, but the people of England did not 

give up the idea of making settlements in America. 

A n u m b e r of 

men set sail for 

Virginia to make 

a settlement 

there. One of 

the leaders of 

the party was 

a man named 

John Smith. 

34. Adven= 
tures of John 
Smith.— When 
Smith was a 
young man he 
ran away from 
home and be- 

1 -,. Captain John Smith (old print). 

came a soldier. 

Once he was captured by the Turks. They 

made him a slave. His master tried to whip 

31 




32 HISTORY PRIMER. 

him. Smith turned on him and killed him with a 
heavy club. He then jumped on his master's 
horse and rode away as fast as he could. 

After passing through many dangers Smith at 
last got back to England. He was glad of the 
chance to join the men who were then starting 
for Virginia. 

35. Settlement of Jamestown, (1607).— When 
they reached Virginia they sailed into Chesapeake 
Bay and up a wide river. They named it the James 
Kiver and called the place where they landed James- 
town. This was in honor of James I, who was then 
King of England. 

The settlers built a rough fort and placed some 
small cannon in it. As the weather was warm they 
did not take the trouble to build houses. They took 
sails from the ship and used them for tents. Some 
of the men slept out in the open air. 

36. How John Smith Saved the Settlement 

Most of the settlers were not used to work. They 
were what were called " gentlemen " in those days. 
They had lost their money and liad come to Virginia 
hoping to get rich quickly. They expected to find 
gold. 

During the summer many became sick and died. 
If it had not been for Captain Smith the settlement 
would have been as bad a failure as Raleigh's. Smith 



JOHN SMITH. 



33 



became their leader and made the men obey him. 
When some of the settlers boarded the ship and 
started to sail to England, Smith turned the cannon 
of the fort upon them and made them come back. 
Captain Smith helped the people who were sick 
and he made the others work. He made a rule that 
any one who would not work should not get any- 
thing to eat. This was a good rule. Even lazy men 
would rather work than starve. 




Pocahontas Saving' Smith. 



37. Story of Pocahontas — One day while Cap- 
tain Smith was leading a party of his men through 



34 HISTORY PRIMER. 

the country they were attacked by Indians. Some 
of the men were killed and Captain Smith was taken 
prisoner. The Indians led him to their chief, Pow- 
hatan. He ordered Smith to be killed. The Indians 
made him })lace his head on a large stone. One of 
them raised a heavy war club and stood ready to 
beat out his brains. 

Just as Powhatan was going to give the order to 
strike, his young daughter, Pocahontas, rushed for- 
ward. She threw her arms around Smith's head and 
begged her father to spare his life. Powhatan loved 
his daughter and on her account allowed Smith to go 
free. He sent him back to Jamestown. Pocahontas 
and some of the Indians went with Smitho They 
took corn and other presents to the settlers. 

Pocahontas became a good friend of the white 
people. When she grew up she married an English- 
man named John Rolfe. She went to England with 
him and lived there the rest of her life. 

38. Smith Returns to England — One day while 
Smith was out in a boat some of his gunpowder 
accidentally exploded. He was hurt so badly that 
he went to England to get doctors to heal his wounds. 

Smith wrote books about Virginia and drew many 
maps of the country. These books and maps taught 
the people of England more than they had ever 
known before about the new world. 



JOHN SMITH. 



35 



39. How the Settlement Grew — The people of 
Virginia had other governors, but none so good as 
Smith. As time went on, more people came over 
from England and the settlement grew. 

Raising tobacco became the principal occupation 
of the people. Many ship loads of tobacco were 
sent to Europe. 




Beginning of Slavery. 



40. The Beginning of Slavery in America.— A 

few years after John Smith left Jamestown, some- 



36 HISTORY PRIMER. 

thing very important happened. A Dutch ship 
brought 20 negroes to Virginia. They were sold as 
slaves to the settlers. After awhile more slaves were 
brought. They were put to Avork in the tobacco 
fields. This was the way slavery began in this 
country. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE STORY OF THE PILGRIMS. 

41. People badly treated on account of their 
Religion. — People nowadays may go to any church 
they choose and worship (iod in the way they think 
best. Things were very different 300 years ago when 
America was being settled. 

King James of England wanted all the people of 
England to go to the same kind of church and wor- 
ship (lod in the same way. When peo})le woukl not 
do this they were beaten, put in prison and punished 
in other ways. 

42. Some of these People go to Holland. — There 
were some people in England Avho would not obey 
the King, no matter how cruelly they were punished. 
Although they loved England very dearly, they said 
they would rather leave their native land tlian be 
forced to worship God in any way they did not think 
right. 

They heard that in Holland they would be allowed 
to have their own religion and to hold their meetings 
without being interfered with. So a number of tliem 
left Eno;land and made their liomes in Holland. 

37 



38 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



4.*>. Why the Pilgrims went to America. — The 

Dutch people treated their new neighbors very well 
but the Euglishmeu were not satisfied. They felt 
strange among their Dutch neighbors- They were 

afraid their children 
w o u 1 d grow u p 
speaking the Dutch 
language instead of 
the English. 

They were still 
Englishmen a n d 
wanted to live on 
land owned by 




Mayflow^er. 



England. So they made up 
their minds to leave Holland 
and sail for America. They 
were called Pilg^rims on ac- 
count of their wanderings 
from place to place. 

44. The Voyage of the 
Mayflower. — Over 100 of 
these Pilgrims, men, women 
and children, started for the 
new world on a ship called the 
Mayflower. 

An English soldier, Captain Myles Stan dish, went 
with the Pilgrims. He was a little man, but he was 




Myles Standish. 



THE STORY OF THE PILGRIMS. 39 

brave and strong. He was as great a help to the 
Pilgrhns as John Smith had been to the Virginia set- 
tlers. 

The Mayflower had a long and stormy voyage. 
At last it reached the shores of America. 

45. The Landing of the Pilgrims ( 1620).— When 
the Pilgrims landed they first stepped npon a flat 
rock lying at the water's edge. This is now known as 
]?lymouth Rock. It is not very large, bnt it is one of 
the most famous rocks in the world. Hundreds of 
people visit it every year. 

40. The First Winter — It Avas just before Christ- 
mas when the Pilgrims landed. The men got to 
work at once and built some rough log houses. 

The weather was very cold and the country looked 
bare and dreary. It was the beginning of a severe 
winter. It was very diflerent from the mild weather 
they had been used to in England. 

To make matters worse, the Pilgrims did not have 
enoup-h food to eat. Before that terrible winter was 
over most of the people became sick, and about half 
of them died. Captain Standish did all he could to 
help the people in their trouble. He was a kind 
nurse, as well as a brave soldier. 

That winter must have seemed a long and dreary 
one to the suflering Pilgrims, but at last spring came. 
Green grass and pretty flowers took the place of the 



40 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



snow. The Pilgrims now began to hope that their 
worst troubles were over. 

47. A Visit from the Indians — One day the set- 
tlers were surprised to see some Indians coming to 




Friendly Visit from the Indians. 



visit them. One of the Indians called out '' Welcome, 
welcome," to show that they were friendly. He knew 
only a few English words. He had learned them 
from another Indian named Squanto who could speak 
English very well. Squanto had been taken to Eng- 



THE STORY OF THE PILGRIMS. 41 

land and afterwards brought back to his native 
hmd. 

48. The Pilgrims Make Friends with the 
Indians. — These Indians belonged to a tribe whose 
chief was named Massasoit. He came to see the 
white men who had settled in his country. 

Massasoit and the governor of the Pilgrims made 
a solemn promise that the white men and the red men 
would be friendly to each other. This promise was 
kept for more tlian fifty years. 

The friendshi}) of the Indians was a good thing 
for the Pilgrims. Squanto and the other Indians 
taught them how to plant corn and where to catch 
fish. 

49. A Plentiful Harvest — The Pilgrims worked 
hard and by the end of summer their crops were 
growing finely. In the autumn they had a large har- 
vest. They had plenty of food now — so much that 
they could lay by a great deal for the coining 
winter. 

The Pilgrims remembered their sufierings of the 
first winter and were filled with joy to think how 
much better off they were now. They were a very 
religious people and gave thanks to God for the bless- 
ings He had sent them. 

50. The First Thanksgiving.— The Pilgrims 
thought it would be a good plan to set aside a day 



42 HISTORY PRIMER. 

for feasting and thanksgiving. They even invited 
the Indians to share their feast with them. 

When the day came they had })lenty to eat. There 
were roast turkeys, ducks and geese, corn bread and 
pumpkin pie. Although the Indians were invited 
guests they brought deer and fish with them to help 
the feast along. 

There were three days of feasting and merry 
making. Before each meal the Pilgrims offered 
thanks to God. In the afternoons they played games 
and ran races. In the evening they gathered around 
great log fires and talked and sang. Perhaps there 
has never been a happier or jollier Thanksgiving than 
this first one. 

After this the Pilgrims set aside a day every year 
for giving thanks to God. • At first only the Pilgrims 
kept Thanksgiving Day. After awhile people in 
other parts of the country followed their example. 

Thanksgiving Day is now a regular holiday in all 
parts of our country. The President names the 
last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day 
for all the people. 

51. Troubles with the Indians. — There were some 
tribes of Indians who were not so friendly to the 
Pilgrims as Massasoit's tribe. Canonicus, another 
chief, hated both Massasoit and the Pilgrims. 

One day Canonicus tried to frighten the white 



THE STORY OF THE PILGRIMS. 



43 




HISTORY PRIMER. 

settlers. He sent the Governor a bundle 
of arrows wrapped up in the skin of a 
rattlesnake. This meant that his tribe 
wanted to fight the Pilgrims. 

But the Governor sent him a good 
answer. He filled the snake skin with 
powder and bullets and sent it back at 
once to Canonicus. The chief took the 
hint and left the Pilgrims alone. 

To protect themselves against the In- 
dians the Pilgrims built a tall, strong 
wooden fence around the little towai of 
Plymouth. They kept their eyes and 
ears open to guard against sudden attacks. 

On Sundays when they went to the 
meeting house each man carried his gun. 
Even when they knelt down to pray 
they had their guns beside them so as to 
be ready for the Indians at a minute's 
notice. 

52. Captain Standish Teaches the 
Indians a Lesson At one time the In- 
dians were quietly getting ready to kill 
all the white settlers. Captain Standish 
with a party of men was sent against them. 
They had a fight with the Indians. 
They killed some of them and brought 



THE STORY OF THE PILGRIMS. 45 

the head of the chief back with them. This scared 
oii' the Indians and the settlement was saved. 

53. Indian Wars. — Bat the Indians still gave the 
settlers a great deal of trouble. They did not fight 
in open battle but would shoot from behind trees. 
Sometimes they would enter the cabins, Avhen the 
men were at work in the fields, and kill the women 
and even the little children. 

There were some fierce and bloody wars, but at 
last the Indians were taught the lesson that the white 
men had come to stay. Little by little, as time went 
on, the Indians were driven far away into the wilder- 
ness. 



CHAPTER VIII. 
HENRY HUDSON. THE SETTLEMENT OF NEW YORK. 

54. The Dutch Send Henry Hudson to America. 

— John Smith had tried to find a passage way 
through America to the Pacific Ocean. AUhoiigh 
he did not succeed, he felt sure that there was such 
a passage. He sent letters 
and maps to friends in 
England to show where 
he thought this passage 
could be found. 

Henry Hudson, a great 
sea-captain, was a friend 
of John Smith. He was 
one of those to whom 
Smith had written about 
t h e passage thro u g h 
America to the Pacific 
Ocean. 

Henry Hudson was an Englishman. He was so 
well known as a good captain that he was hired by 

46 




Henry Hudson. 



HENRY HUDSON. 



47 



the Dutch to make a voyage in search of the short 
way to India. 

55. Hudson Discovers New York Bay and the 
Hudson River — Hudson sailed in a ship named 
the Half-Moon. After a stormy voyage he found 
a broad bay that seemed to lead far into the 
country. This was the bay that we now call New 
York Bay. 




Half-Moon on the Hudson. 



Hudson sailed up the bay and found that it led to 
a beautiful broad river. On the western shore of the 



48 HISTORY PRIMER. 

river, the bank formed a high rocky wall which ex- 
tended for about twenty miles up the river. The 
Palisades, as this rocky wall is now called, are 
famous for their beauty. 

Hudson named this beautiful stream '' The Great 
River, " but it did not keep that name. It was soon 
called Hudson liiver in honor of the captain who 
had discovered it. 

50. Hudson's Voyage up the River — The water 
of the Hudson liiver is salty for many miles from its 
mouth. This made Captain Hudson think that per- 
haps it was a strait connecting the Atlantic and 
Pacific Oceans, the passage way that he was trying 
to find. 

As Hudson sailed further up the river he noticed 
that it was becoming shallow. At last he could go 
no farther for fear that his ship would run aground. 
He had sailed up the river more than one hundred 
miles, and had reached the place where the city of 
Albany now stands. He had not found the passage 
he was seeking, so he turned back and sailed down 
the river. Later he returned to Holland to tell the 
Dutch about his voyage. 

57. Fur Trade with the Indians Though 

Henry Hudson had not found a short way to India, 
he made a valuable discovery. Tliere was no gold 
nor silver along the banks of the Hudson, but there 



HENRY HUDSON. 



49 



were Indian hunters who had valuable furs taken 
from the animaLs they trapped. 

Hudson found that the Indians were friendly. 
'J'hey were willing to trade their furs for hatchets, 
knives, beads and other trifles. 

58. The Settlement of New Amsterdam When 

Hudson told the people of Holland about his dis- 
coveries they sent men over to trade with the Indians. 

The Dutch traders 
settled upon a long- nar- 
row island at the moutli 
of the Hudson River. 
This island was called 
Manhattan by the In- 
d i a n s. The Dutch 
bought the whole 
island from the m. 
Tliey gave the Indians 
about twenty-five dollars' wortli of hatchets, cloth, 
beads and other trifles in payment for it. The 
Dutch named their settlement New Amsterdam. 
This land is to-day worth many million dollars. 
It is where the great city of New York now stands. 

The Dutch were a quiet, peaceful, hard-working 
people. They kept their liouses neat and clean. 
The Indians were friendly with them and the settle- 
ment got along well. 




New Amsterdam (old print). 



50 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



59. New Amsterdam Taken by the English — 

The English chiimecl the kind where the Dutch had 
settled, and sent some ships to take possession of it. 
The old Dutch governor, Peter Stuyvesant, hobbled 




Peter Stuyvesant and his Wooden Leg. 



around on his wooden leg and tried to get his soldiers 
to fight. The English had many more men than the 
Dutch. Tt seemed useless to fight, so the Dutch 
surrendered without a battle. 

When the English got possession of the town 
they changed its name to New York. This was in 



HENRY HUDSON. 51 

honor of the Duke of York, a brother of the King 
of Enghind. 

60. The Last Voyage of Henry Hudson — But 

what became of Henry Hudson 'I The year after lie 
discovered the Hudson river he made another voyage 
to America in search of the north-west passage. He 
sailed into the large bay that has been named after 
him. 

His ship was caught in the ice and he had to stay 
there several months. Hudson and his men did not 
have enough to eat. At last the men turned against 
Captain Hudson. They placed him and his son and 
a few others, who had taken his part, in a small boat 
and set it adrift. Captain Hudson and his compan- 
ions were never seen again. It is likely that they 
died of cold and starvation. 



CHAPTER TX. 



WILLIAM PENN AND THE FRIENDS. 

61. The Friends Treated Badly in England.— The 

Pilgrims were not the only people who were treated 
badly in England on account of their religion. The 
Friends, or Quakers, as they are sometimes called, 

were also treated 
cruelly. They were 
beaten and put in 
prison. 

The Friends seemed 
to the other people 
of England to have 
queer notions. They 
did not believe in 
lighting and would 
not serve as soldiers. 
They thought one man was just as good as another, 
so they all dressed alike. A Quaker would not take 
oif his hat even in the presence of the King. 

62. Penn's Plan to Help the Friends. — A young 
man named William Penn w^as a great leader of the 
Friends. He was not afraid to preach their religion 

52 




William Penn. 



WILLIAM PENN AND THE FRIENDS. 53 

even though he was often put in prison for doing so. 
The English kept on treating the Quakers very 
badly. So at last Penn thought it would be a good 
plan to find a home for them in America. 

03. The King Gives Pennsylvania to Penn. — The 
King of England owed Penn a large sum of money. 
He had but little money to spare, so he paid his debt 
by giving Penn a large piece of land in America. In 
honor of Penn's father the King called the land 
Pennsylvania. This means Penn's Woods. 

This land was worth very little in those days, but 
Penn was glad to get it. He thought it would be a 
good place for the (^)uakers to settle. 

04. Settlement of Pennsylvania by the Quakers. 
— A number of Quakers were soon found who were glad 
of the chance to settle in Pennsylvania. They sailed 
across the Atlantic Ocean and up Delaware Bay. 
They made a settlement (1681) on the Western bank 
of the Delaware Eiver. 

The next year William Penn himself came over 
wdth about one hundred more Quakers. They sailed 
up tlie Delaware River. William l^enii named the 
place where they landed Philadelphia. 

The word Philadelphia means " Brotherly Love." 
Penn used this name because he w^ished all the people 
who would live in this city to treat each other as 
brothers. 



54 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



05. Penn Buys the Land from the Indians. — Penn 
believed in treating' everybody fairly. He tliouglit 
all men were brothers no matter what the color of 
their skin might be. He said the Indian was as good 
as the white man and ought to be treated just the 
same. 

As the Indians had been living in Pennsylvania 
before the white men came over, Penn said the land 
belonged to them. He thought it would be wrong to 
take their land without paying them for it. Penn 

^^^^_s^ dians several 

thousand dol- 
lars' worth of 
hatchets, 
guns, b 1 a n- 
kets, b e a d s 
and o t h e r 
things in pay- 
ment for the 
land. 

06. Penn's 
Treaty with 
the Indians — Penn and the Indians held a meeting 
under a wide-spreading elm-tree on the bank of the 
Delaware. Penn told the Indians that the red 
men and the white men were really one flesh and 




Treaty ■with the Indians. 



WILLIAM PENN AND THE FRIENDS. 



55 



blood and should live at peace with each other like 
brothers. 

The Indians had never been spoken to in this way 
before. They were greatly pleased. They promised 
that they would live at peace with the white settlers 
as lono* as the sun and moon would shine. 

C5 




Cave-dwelling-s in River-bank. 

Penn gave the Indians presents and the Indians 
gave Penn a belt made of wampum. On this belt 
there was a picture of two men clasping hands. One 
had a hat on and was meant for William Penn. The 
other one was meant for an Indian chief. 



56 



HISTOEY PEIMER. 



Penn's treaty with the Indians was kept faithfully 
by Loth the red men and the (^)uakers. There were 
no Indian wars in Pennsylvania as there were in 
other parts of the country. 

This showed that the Indians were not such bad 

peoi)le after all. When the white people treated them 

well they were willing- to treat the white people well. 

67. Early Settlers — Many of the first settlers 

lived for a time in caves which they du^r in the 

banks of 
the rive r. 
As soon as 




they 
they 



could, 
built 



log 



Early Philadelphia House. 



houses 
for them- 
selves. At 
first there 
were only a 
few houses. 

William Penn did not mean that Pennsylvania 
should be settled only by Quakers. He wanted 
people in all parts of the world who were treated 
badly in their own country to come here and be free. 
Many more people from many diiferent countries 
came to Philadelphia and the city grew rapidly. 

68. Penn's Plan for Philadelphia Penn had 



WILLIAM PENN AND THE FRIENDS. 



57 



made a plan for the city. He wished it to have 
straight, broad streets. Many of the streets were 
named after the trees ; Chestnnt, Wahmt, Pine, etc. 

He wanted each house built 
by itself with a grassy lawn 
around it. He thought this 
would make the city beautiful. 
Besides this, fire could not 
spread easily if the houses were 
far apart. 

69. Death of William Penn. 
— Penn helped the settlement 
in many other ways. It is 
no wonder that there was great 
sorrow when he died. 

The Indians as well as the 
white people felt they had lost 
a o-ood friend. Some of the 
red men sent Mrs. Penn a fine 
fur cloak. Tliis was to show 
her how dearly they loved her husband. 

Penn died nearly two hundred vears afro, but the 
people of Pennsylvania can never forget the good he 
did- The City Hall of Philadelphia has one of the 
highest towers in the world. On the top of this tower 
there is a large statue of William Penn. His hand is 
outstretched as if blessing the city he loved so well. 




statue of Penn. 



CHAPTER X. 



HOW THE ENGLISH COLONIES BECAME THE UNITED 

STATES. 

70. The Thirteen English Colonies — We have 
now learned about four settlements in America. The 
first of these was Virginia, settled by John Smith 

and a company of Enolish 
" gentlemen." The second 
was New England, settled by 
the Pilo-rims. This was after- 
wards called Massachusetts. 
The third was New York, 
settled by the Dutch, and 
afterwards captured by the 
English. The last one we 
learned about was Pennsyl- 
vania, which was settled by 
William Penn and the Quakers. 

P)esides these colonies there were nine others, 
making thirteen altogether. Most of the people were 
Englishmen, and all the colonies belonged to England. 

71. Governors Sent Over by the King of 
England — The King of England sent governors to 

58 




King Georg-e III. 



HOW COLONIES BECAME UNITED STATES. 59 

most of the colonies. Only a few of the colonies 
were allowed to choose their own governors. The 
people had to obey all the laws made in England. 
Some of the governors sent over by the King did 
not treat the colonies fairly. The people hated these 
men, and wanted to choose their own governors. 

72. The King Taxes the Colonies — The people 
of the colonies had other reasons to complain. The 
King of England needed money. So he tried to 
force his people in America to pay him taxes. This 
made them very angry. They thought the King 
had no right to take their money unless they were 
willing to give it. 

One of the ways the King tried to raise money 
from the people of the colonies was to put a tax on 
tea. This would make them pay a higher price for 
every pound of tea which they bought. The extra 
money was to be sent to the King of England. But 
he could not catch the people this way. They would 
not buy the tea. They said they would rather do 
without tea than pay the tax to the King. 

73. The Boston Tea Party — A ship load of tea 
was sent to Boston. When they heard that the ship 
had arrived, a party of men in that city dressed them- 
selves up like Indians. They went on board the ship 
while it was anchored in the harbor. They broke 
open the chests and threw the tea overboard. 



60 



HISTOKY PKIMER. 



This was called the '' Boston Tea-party. " At 
most tea-parties water 
is poured upon the tea ; 
at this tea-party the tea 
was poured into the 
water. 

This bold act made 
the Kino: 



^B very angry. 
He tried to punish the 
people of Boston by 
making a law that no 
ships could enter or 

leave the harbor of Throwmgr over the Tea. 

Boston until the tea should 
be paid for. He also sent 
soldiers to make the people 
obey the laws. 

74. The Other Colonies 
Take Sides with Boston. 
— All these things only made the 
people more angry. The other col- 
onies thought that the Boston people 
were rio^ht and took sides with them 
against the King. 

If the King of England had been 

wise he would have paid more atten- 

Engiish soldier. ^^^^^ ^^ ^j^^ complaluts of thc Auicr- 





HOW COLONIES BECAME UNITED STATES. 



61 



ican people. He had not sense enoug'li to do this, 
but kept on trying to make them obey his unfair hiws. 
75. The Colonies Begin to Think About Sepa= 
rating From England.— At last the people saw that 
there was no use trying to get fair treatment from 




Independence Hall. 



England. They said, ''If we cannot get along with 
England, we will try to get along without her!" 
It was decided that each of the colonies should 



62 



HISTOKY PRIMEK. 



send some men to hold meetings in Philadelphia. 
Meetings were held in Carpenters Hall and in the State 
House, now called Independence Hall, at Fifth and 
Chestnut Streets. 




Signing the Declaration. 

70. Declaration of Independence. — Tn the State 
House on the Fourth of July, 1776, the Declaration of 
Independence was agreed upon. This famous paper 
was written by Thomas Jefferson, and signed by all 
those present at the meeting. It declared that the 
colonies were now independent. This meant that 
they no longer belonged to England, but were free 
and would rule themselves. 



HOW COLONIES BECAME UNITED STATES. 63 

Instead of English colonies tliey now called them- 
selves The United States of America. 

77. How the People Received the News. — There 
was great joy among the people when they heard 
that the Declaration of Independence had been 
sio^ned. Bells were runo:, and bonfires were liohted. 
The Declaration was read to thousands of people 
and to the soldiers in the American army. When 
the people heard the news in New York they pulled 

OF A M ERl CA dy. Ge.rJ.<Ji Qr^uj^s ^i/ew!Aa ^^ 



Ji^wj!/ tyyv<,u>^ HU. ncrw^/yi t^ fha^ ca^-il /xs, "^^^M^asrolSKHaj^BabrtfiwCUrri. -& 



'top^ 'nyv^AJln\J^ Jl 'Vv^a/vJui/ru) ■■^^iUALyrt^ ykodt Hum ykirSi) c(e^i£cy*e, mc Ca.ti'ti^ 

Part of Declaration of Independence. 

[In Jeffersou'3 Writing.] 

down a leaden statue of the King. They melted it 
and made it into bullets. 

78. The Colonies Ready to Fight. — The people 
knew that England would not let her colonies go 
without a hard fight to keep them. The Americans 
had stood the King's bad treatment long enough. 
They were ready to fight. Most of them felt as 



64 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



Patrick Heniy did. He said in a famous speech, 
" Give me liberty or give me death." 




Pulling Down the Statue of George III. 

79. Our Nation's Birthday— The Fourth of July. 

— The Fourtli of July has been kept as a holiday 

ever since the Declaration 
of Independence was signed 
in 1776. 

Every boy and girl knows 
what it means to have a birth- 
day party. On that day friends 
make them presents, and they 
have a jolly time playing 
games and eating good things. 

The Fourth of July is the 




Patrick Henry. 



HOW COLONIES BECAME UNITED STATES. 65 

birthday of the United States. The people all over 
the eountiy have a holiday. Flags fly from pub- 
Kc buildings and from many houses. Speeches are 
made, and the Declaration of Independence is read 
to crowds of people. Boys and girls enjoy them- 
selves setting off fire works. It is the greatest Amer- 
ican holiday. 



C) H A P T E R X I . 
GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

80. Washington Made Commander=in=Chief. — 

There had been some fighting between tlie American 
and Enghsh soldiers even before the Declaration of 
Independence was made. 

After the fourth of Jnly the Americans knew 
that a long, bloody war would have to be fought with 
England. They chose George Washington to be the 
leader of their army, or commander-in-chief. 

George Washington is such a famous man in the 
history of our country that we should study the 
story of his life. 

81. Washington's Boyhood.— George Washing- 
ton was born in Virginia on February 22nd, 1732. 
His father died when George was only eleven years 
old. His mother was left to take care of him and 
four otlier children all younger than George. 

To bring up these ^ve little children without their 
father to help her must have been a hard task for 
Mrs. Washington. But slie knew liow to make 
them obey her and slie taught them all to be respect- 
ful, orderly and truthful. 

66 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



67 



The stories of George's early life show how much 
he owed to the careful training that his mother gave 
him. If she had not been such a true and noble 
woman, we might never have heard of George Wash- 



in o-ton at all. 







Washing-ton and the Colt. 






82. The Story of Washington and the Colt.— 

There is a story which shows how carefully his 
mother taught him to speak the truth. 

There was a wild young colt on the farm. It had 
never been broken. It was large and beautiful and 
Mrs. Washington liked it better than any of her 



gg HISTORY PRIMER. 

horses. Almost everybody was afraid of the colt, 
but George made up his mind to tame it. 

One day he got some playmates to help him catch 
the colt. He then slipped on the bit and bridle and 
jumped on the angry animal's back. Off they went, 
as fast as the colt could run. The colt tried hard to 
throw its rider. It grew Avilder and wilder, but (xcorge 
held on tight. At last it made one great jump and 
fell down dead. The colt had burst a blood-vessel. 

George knew that his mother would be very 
angry when she heard al)out the death of her colt. 
When the boys came in to breakfast she asked if her 
horses Avere being Avell taken care of. They all 
looked at each other, afraid to speak. 

At last George said, ''The colt is dead, Madam; 
I killed him. " At first jMrs. Washington was very 
angry. He then told the whole story and his mother 
said, " I am sorry that the colt is dead, but I am 
glad my boy always speaks the truth. " 

83. School Days.^Washington studied hard at 
school. Some of his copy books have been kept to 
this day. They show how neat and orderly he was. 
In one of them there are over a hundred rules of 
conduct. Here are some of them: 

" Think before you speak. " 

" Speak not evil of the ahaent for it Is nnjtist. " 

" Eat not ivitli (greediness, neither Jiud fault ivith ivhat yon eat. " 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 69 



Thinking about rules like these and trying to 

keep them helped to make Washington a great man. 

George was a big strong boy for his age. People 

Extract from Washington's Cyft^^ "l^^/^Z/Z/^ 



Copy Book. 






to-day show the spot wdiere they say lie threw a stone 
across the Rappahannock River. He was also a 
good runner and wrestler. 

George Avas a leader among his playmates. When 
they i)layed soldier he was generally captain. He 
was looked up to by the other boys and often settled 
their quarrels for them. 

84. The Young Surveyor, — Washington left school 
when he was about IG Acars of ag-e. He learned 
how^ to measure land and did a great deal of tliis 
kind of w^ork. 

l^'avelhng over the country he found out a great 
deal about the streams and forests and studied the 



70 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



ways of animals. He also learned the habits of the 
Indians who were then livincr in Virsrinia. 

85. Washington Sent on an Important Errand. 

— The Governor of Virginia wanted to send an im- 
portant m e s- 







Washington Surveying-. 



sage to a 
French fort 
on Lake Erie- 
Tins was hun- 
dreds of miles 
a w a J. A 1- 
thongh Wash- 
ington was 
only twenty- 
one years old, 
the governor 
chose him to go on this errand. 

It was late in November when Washino^ton and 
six others started off on their dangerous trip. They 
had a hard time getting to the French fort. At last 
they reached it, and Washington gave the message 
to the commander. When they received the answer, 
the party started on the journey back to Virginia. 
86. The Dangerous Homeward Journey. ^ — Wash- 
ington was in a hurry to get the French com- 
mander's message back to the governor. He went 
ahead with one of the men. The others were left to 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



71 



come on more slowly with the horses and baggage. 

It was now winter and the weather was very cold. 
When Washington and his companion reached the 
Allegheny River it was partly frozen, and large blocks 
of ice Avere rushing down the stream. The only 
tool they had was a hatchet, and it took them all day 
to make a raft. 

While cross- 
ing the stream the 
ice jammed 
again s t the raft, 
and Washington 
was thrown into 
the icy Av^ater. He 
managed to climb 
aboard the raft 
[, again. At last they 
reached an island 

where theV were Washington crossing- the Allegheny. 

obliged to spend the night. What a terrible night 

that must have been ! They had not even a fire to 
i dry their wet clothing. Instead of a soft, warm bed 

they had only the frozen ground to lie upon, 
i Next mornino- the river was frozen solid, and they 

were able to w^alk across. 
I At last they reached the governor's home, and 

I Washington gave him the answer to his message. 




72 HISTORY PRIMER. 

The governor made Washington a Colonel in the 
army as a reward for his bravery. 

87. The War with the French and Indians. — 

Soon after this a war broke out between the Eiipiish 
and the French in America. England sent General 
Braddock with a large number of English soldiers or 
red-coats, as they were called, to drive the French 
otf the land that Eno-land claimed as her own. 

Washington was C^olonel of a Virginia regiment. 
He and his men joined Braddock's army. 

In this war the Indians were helping the French. 
Braddock and his English soldiers did not know the 
Indians' way of fighting. Washington warned Brad- 
dock that the Indians were cunning and tricky. 
Instead of lighting face to face, as the English were 
used to doing, they would hide behind trees and rocks 
and lie in wait for their enemies. 

88. Braddock's Defeat.— Braddock would not 
follow Washington's advice. He marched his 
army through the woods with banners flying and 
drums beating. 

Suddenly the enemy fired a great volley of bul- 
lets and killed and wounded manv of tlie Eno^hsli 
soldiers. Braddock's men formed in line to give 
battle, but did not know where to shoot, as the French 
and Indians could not be seen. 

The Virginians were the only ones who knew 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



73 




74 



HISTOKY PKIMEK. 



what to do. They jumped behind trees and com- 
menced to fight Indian fashion. 

General Braddock and hundreds of his men were 
killed. Washington rode about on horseback giving 

orders to the 
men. Bullets 
tore through 
his clothing 
and horses 
were killed 
under him, 
but he escap- 
ed unhurt. It 
is strange that 
he was not 
killed. It 
s e eme d as 
though God 
was saving 
him to lead 
his country in 
the War for 
I n d e p e n d- 
ence. 

89. General Wolfe and the Capture of Quebec. — 
The last battle of the French and Indian War was 
the taking of Quebec. This city stood upon a high 




George Washington. 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 75 

bluff and was almost surroimded by water. It was 
thought that no army would be able to capture it. 

General Wolfe was the leader of the English army. 
He discovered a rugged pathway leading to the top 
of the high cliff where the French had their army. 

One night Wolfe's army quietly climbed u\) this 
pathway. The French were surprised next morning 
to see the English soldiers facing them. 

In the battle that followed the French were beaten. 
Both General Wolfe and the French Commander Mont- 
calm were killed. The capture of Quebec ended the 
war and made the English the masters of America. 

90. Washington Leads the Americans in Their 
War for Freedom. — After the French and Indian War, 
Washino-ton was the best known soldier in the colo- 
nies. When the trouble began with England he was 
chosen to command the American Army. 

He was commander-in-chief of the American armies 
all through the War for Independence. He was a 
brave general, and his men loved and respected him. 
The war lasted eight years. At last England gave up 
the fight and the United States became a free nation. 

Washington now went back to Mt. Vernon to 
live in peace and quietness in his country home. 

91. Washington Chosen President.— Washing- 
ton had done great things for his country, but the 
people needed him again. They chose him to be 



76 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



the first President of tlie United States. Four years 
later tliey chose him again. 

He ruled the country wisely, and the people 
wanted to elect him a third time,. He thought no 
man should be President more than two terms, 
so he refused to serve again. 



^"^, 



"-^ 



HJIlJll 







Washing'ton at Mount Vernon. 



92. Death of Washington.— A few years later he 
died at Mt. Vernon. He is often spoken of as the 
'' Father of his Country. " It has been well said of 
him, that '' he was first in war, first in peace, and first 
in the hearts of his countrymen. " 



CHAPTEE XII. 



PAUL REVERE^S RIDE AND THE BATTLE 

INGTON. 



OF LEX- 



93. Minute Men.— When the news of the Boston 
tea-party reached England, the 
King sent General Gage and a 
number of soldiers to Boston. 
This looked like war, and the Am- 
ericans got ready to tight. As they 
did not know when the fighting 
might begin they formed com- 
panies of men who were to be 
ready at a minute's notice. These 
were called " Minute men. " 

94. General Gage Plans to 
Capture the American Stores. — 
The Americans now collected all 
the powder, ball, guns, and cannon 
that they could get. 

General Gage heard that they had stored some 
of these things in Concord, a little town near Boston. 
He made up his mind to send soldiers there to cap- 
ture or destroy the powder and guns belonging to 
the Americans. 




Minute Man. 



78 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



General Gage tried to keep his plan secret, but 

some Americans found it out. One of these was a 

young man named Paul Revere. 

95. Paul Revere's Ride.— On the night that the 

British were going to 
start , Paul Revere 
stood ready with a 
good horse to gallop 
through the country 
and rouse the people. 
A friend kept watch 
in a high church tower 
in Boston on the other 
side of the river. He 
was to hang out lan- 
terns as a signal to 
Paul Revere and other 
riders, to tell them 
which way the British 
were going. 

As soon as they saw 
the signal light they 
mounted their horses 

and galloped through the country in every direction. 

As they rode along they shouted to the startled 

people, " The British are coming. " 

Soon the news spread through the country. The 




Paul Revere's Ride. 



PAUL REVERE'S RIDE AND THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. 79 

" Minute men " came running out. When the British 
did come they found the Americans waiting for them. 
96. The Battle of Lexington.— At Lexington, on 
the road to Concord, there was some fighting between 
the British soldiers and a small company of " Minute 




Battle of Lexington. 

men. " This was the first real fighting of the war. 
Some Americans were killed. 

Tlie British then marched on to Concord. Here 
they destroyed some of the powder and shot, and also 
some flour belonging to the Americans. They also 



80 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



set fire to the court-house. The British soldiers then 
began their march back to Boston. 

Meanwhile the whole country had been aroused. 
^' Minute men " and farmers were pouring in from all 
sides. 

All along the road the Americans fired at the red- 




Concord Bridge. 



coats from behind walls and trees and haystacks. 
More than three hundred of the British were killed. 
This fight is generally called the Battle of Lex- 
ington. It was really the beginning of the War for 
Independence. 



CHAPTER XIII. 
THE AMERICAN ARMY AT VALLEY FORGE. 

97. The British Capture Philadelphia.^As the 

war went on, England sent many generals and 
thonsands of soldiers to fight the Americans. Wash- 
ington had only a small army, and it was poorly 
clothed and fed. 

A number of severe battles were fonght. At last 
the British army entered Philadelphia. Washing- 
ton's men fonght bravely, but they could not keep 
the British out of the city. 

98. Washington Retreats to Valley Forge. — 
When the British entered Philadelphia, Washington 
led his army to Valley Forge, about twenty miles 
away. Here they spent the winter. 

There were no houses for the soldiers, and the 
weather was too cold for them to live in tents. 

Washington set the men to work to build log 
houses. These were small and rough, with only the 
bare ground for a floor. A dozen men were crowded 
into each log hut. These rude houses were poor 
places to spend a bitter winter season. 

6 81 



82 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



99. Sufferings of the Americans. — The winter 
was a very cold one, and the ground was covered 
with snow. 







Valley Forge. 



The clothing of the men was torn and ragged. 
Some of them had worn-ont shoes. Others had no 
shoes at all, but used pieces of blanket instead. 



THE AMERICAN ARMY AT VALLEY FORGE. 8.3 

Their feet became bruised and cut, and often left 
blood marks upon the snow. 

Food Avas very scnrce. The soldiers did not have 
enough to eat for themselves, and they could get 
hardly anything for their horses. Many of these faith- 
ful animals starved to death, and the men had to do 
their work. They harnessed themselves to sleds, and 
dragged heavy loads over the snow to their log huts. 

100. How Washington Helped His Men.— Some 
of the farmers nearby liad been selling grain and 
other provisions to the British army in Philadelphia. 
Washington made them stop this. He forced them 
to supply his hungry soldiers Avitli food. 

Many of the men became discouraged and wanted 
to desert. Washington did his best to cheer up his 
down-hearted soldiers. In spite of their terrible 
sufferings he managed to keep the army together. 

If Washington had not been a great general, 
loved by his men, he could not have done this. 

101. The British in Philadelphia.— While the sick 
and half-starved American army were suffering at 
Valley Forge, the Avell-fcd British soldiers were en- 
joying themselves in Philadelphia. They had good 
houses to live in, and had jolly times in the (^hiaker 
city. They passed the winter like a pleasant holiday. 

102. Baron Steuben Helps to Drill the American 
Army. — Luckily, toward the end of the winter a great 



84 



HISTORY PRIMER 



drill master from Germany came to help the Ameri- 
cans at Valley Forge. His name was Baron Steuben. 




Steuben Drilling' American Soldiers. 

Washington got him to drill the American army. 
Steuben was a good teacher, and the soldiers learned 
their lessons well. They soon gave up their careless 
habits, and learned to obey orders, to stand up 
straio^ht and to march in o-ood order. 

This drilling was just what the soldiers had needed. 
When spring came, Washington had a good fighting 
army in spite of the hard winter they had passed. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

BETSY ROSS AND THE AMERICAN FLAG. 

103. Our Flag.— All American boys and girls 
know their country's flag. It has thirteen stripes 
(seven red and six white), one for each of the first 
thirteen states. In the corner it has forty-five white 
stars on a blue field. There is a star for every state 
in the Union. Whenever a new state is admitted 
to the Union anotlier star is added to the flag. 

104. FSags of the Colonies.— But we did not 
alwavs have this beautiful flao-. When the thirteen 
colonies belonged to England, the 
Union Jack or Eno-lish flao^ was their 
flag also. Besides this, each colony 
had a flag or banner of its own. So 
there were many different flags in the 

colonies Rattlesnake Flag-. 

105. First Flags in the American Army. — When 
the fio-htiup; bep-an between Eno-laud and her colonies 
there were about a dozen different kinds of flags car- 
ried in the American army. 

On some of the flags there was a picture of a 

85 





86 HISTORY PRIMER. 

rattlesnake with thirteen rattles. Under the rattle- 
snake there were the words, " Don't tread on me. " 

Tiie troops from some of the 
northern colonies carried a flag with 
the picture of a pine tree on it. 

106. The American Flag Adopted. 
— As the war went on, Washington 
Pine Tree Flag. wanted to liavc oiic kiiid of flag for 
the whole army. The flag which was to stand for 
the United States on land and sea was agreed upon 
June 14th, 1777, in the State House in Philadelphia. 
This was about two years after the war began. 

Tliis flag was just like our flag today except that 
it had only thirteen stars instead of forty-five. The 
stars were arranged in a circle. 

107. The Story of Betsy Ross.— The first x\meri- 
can flag was made by a woman who lived in Phila- 
delphia. Her name was Betsy Eoss. She was 
famous for her good sewing. She used to make flags 
for sea-captains. It is said that once she made a fine 
rufiled shirt for Washington. 

When the new United States flag was adopted, 
Betsy Ross was asked to make one. The story is 
told that Washington and some other gentlemen 
called to see Betsy Ross about making the flag. 
When they asked her if she would do it she answered, 
" I do not know whether I can, but I'll try. " 



BETSY ROSS AND THE AMERICAN FLAG. 



87 



Washington thought that a six-pointed star should 
be used in the flag. Betsy Ross thought a five- 
pointed star would be better because it would be 
different from the stars on the English flag. 




Betsy Ross and the Flag Committee. 



'' Mrs. Ross, " said Washington, " don't you think 

that would be too hard to make *? " 

" Not at all, " said Betsy. " It is very easy. " 
She then folded a piece of paper and gave it one 

quick snip with her scissors. When she unfolded 



88 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



the paper, she had a perfect five-pointed star. Wash- 
ington and the other men were greatly pleased. 
They told Betsy to use the live-pointed stars and 
finish the flag as soon as she could. 

108. Betsy Ross's House,— The house in which 
Betsy Ross lived and made the first flag is still stand- 
ing. It is No. 239 Arch 
St., Philadelphia. It is 
an old-fashioned little 
house, two and a half 
stories high. Many 
people visit it every 
year to see the house 
where the first flag 
was made. 

109. Flag Day.— 
It was on the 14th 
of June, 1777, that 
our country's flag was 
adopted. On this ac- 
count, the 14th of 
June is now called 
'^ Flag Day. " 

In Philadelphia and 

in many other places. 

Flag Day is cele- 

wave over our school 




Ross House and nibL American i^ lag. 



brated every year. Flags 



BETSY ROSS AND THE AMERICAN FLAG. g^ 

houses and other })nblic buildings, and from the 
windows of many homes. 

In Philadelphia hundreds of school children visit 
Betsy Ross's home on this day. The story of the 
flag is told in the schools, and the " Star-Spangled 
Banner " and other patriotic songs are sung. 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE STORY OF LYDIA DARRAH. 

110. American Women During the War. — When 

we study about the War for Independence it seems 
as though everything Avas done by the men. We 
must not forget that while the men were fighting in 
the army, their wives and families were left at home. 
The women had to work very hard to take care 
of the children without the help of their husbands. 
Many men who went to the war Avere killed in 
battle. Their poor wives and children never saw 
them again. 

111. Lydia Darrah.— The women as well as the 
men were anxious to win the hght against England. 
There was one woman in Philadelpliia who helped 
the Americans at a time when they greatly needed 
help. Her name was Lydia Darrah. 

Lydia was the wife of a (Quaker school teacher. 
She used to nurse the sick. Many people in l?hila- 
delphia knew and loved her, because she was so kind 
and tender hearted. 

90 



THE STORY OF LYDIA DARRaH. 



91 




Lydia Darrah's House. 



112. Meetings Held in Lydia Darrah's House. — 

When the British army was spending the winter 
in Philadelphia some of the officers held meet- 
ings in a back room 
in Lydia Darrah's 
house. They chose 
this room because 
they coukl meet there 
quietly and make 
secret plans without 
fear of being dis- 
turbed. 

113. Lydia Over= 
hears the British Plans. — One afternoon they told 
Lydia Darrah to have the room ready by seven 
o'clock that evening. One of the officers said to her : 

" Be sure to have your family go to bed early. 
When we are ready to go, I shall let you know so 
that you can put out the candles. " 

Lydia thought this was a strange order but said 
she would do as she was told. She was afraid the 
British officers were getting ready to make a secret 
attack on the American army at Valley Forge. 

The Darrah family went to bed early as Lydia 
had promised. She was so worried that she did not 
undress. She threw herself on the bed but did 
not go to sleep. 



92 HISTORY PRIMER. 

When all was still, Lydia slipped off lier shoes 
and went quietly to the door of the meeting room. 
She could hear the British otheers talking over their 
plans. She heard them say that they were going to 
slip out quietly at night to surprise and capture 
Washington's army. Lydia had heard enough. She 
crept softly back to bed. 

In a little while one of the officers knocked on 
her door. She pretended to be asleep. After he 
had knocked again, she got up, put on her shoes, and 
came to the door yawning, as if only half awake. 

When the British officers left the house Lydia put 
out the lights. She went back to bed but could not 
sleep. She made up her mind that she would keep 
the secret even from her family and friends. She 
meant to let Washington know as soon as pos- 
sible. 

114. Washington Warned of His Danger. — 
Early in the morning, l^ydia Darrah told her husband 
that she must go to the mill to buy some flour. 

The flour mill Avas five miles away. At last she 
reached it and left her sack to be filled. She then 
hurried on. 

Luckily she soon met a scout from Washington's 
army. She told him her secret and hurried back to 
the mill for her flour. The scout rode ofl" as fast as 
he could to warn AVashington of the danger. 



THE STORY OF LYDIA DARRAII. 93 

115. The British Plan Fails.— The Biitisli caiiied 
out their jilaiis as tar as they could. They inarched 
oti' quietly in 
the darkness. 

At last 
they reached 
the place 
where they 
expected to 
s u r p r i s e 
W ashington 
and his men. 
But they did 
not catch 
the m nap- 
ping . They 
f o u n d the 
army ready 
for a fio:ht. 
Their plans 
h a d failed, 
and they marched back disgusted. 

They wondered how their plans had been found 
out. Of course Lydia Darrali knew but she said 
nothing. 




Lydia Darrah and the Scout. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 



116. How Franklin Helped to Win Independence. 

— There were some Americans who did not join the 
army, but who helped their country in other ways. 

Benjamin Franklin was 
one of these men. He 
Avas nearly seventy 
years old when the war 
began, but he Avas not 
too old to work for his 
country. 

He helped to write 
the Declaration of In- 
dependence and he was 
not afraid to sign it. 

He went to France 
to get the King to help 
America in her iip-ht 

o 
Benjamin Franklin. a^Xaiust F U P" 1 a U d. 

Franklin was well liked by the King and people of 
France. He got the King to lend the Americans 

94 




BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 95 

a large sum of money, and to send over warships 
and soldiers to light on the American side. 

117. Franklin's Autobiography.— Franklhi did 

many other great things in his long and useful life. 
He wrote a book in which he told the story of his 
life. You will enjoy reading this l^ook when you 
are older. Here we can tell you only a little of 
the story of Franklin's life^ 

118. The Boyhood of FranI<:Hn.— He was born in 
Boston, about two hundred years ago. He had 
many brothers and sisters for he was the youngest of 
seventeen children. 

As a boy, he was a leader among his playmates. 
The shore around the pond where they went fishing 
was lovv^ and swampy. There was a pile of stones 
lying nearby where a house was being built. 

One evening when the workmen had gone home, 
Franklin got his playmates to help carry the stones 
and build a little wharf. 

When the workmen found out what had been 
done, they complained to Franklin's father. Benjamin 
made the excuse that the wharf was useful. It was 
needed to keep the boys from getting their feet wet. 
His father corrected him, and said, ''Nothing is useful 
that is not honest. " 

119. Franklin Runs Away to Philadelphia. — 
Franklin worked for an older brother who had a 



96 



HISTOEY PRIMER. 



printing shop. His brother gave him poor pay and 

sometimes beat him cruelly. Franklin stood this as 

long as he could, but at last ran away. 

He was now seventeen years old. Although 

Franklin had been getting very small wages he had 

saved a little money. 
After a long a n d 
weary journey partly 
on foot and partly by 
boat, he reached 
Philadelphia. He had 
spent nearly all his 
money. 

He landed from 
the row-boat at Mar- 
ket St. wharf on a 
Sunday morning. He 
was tired, wet and 
hungry. The first 
thing he did was to 
go into a bakery shop 

Franklin walking up Market Street. n,nd buV tlirCC bi*^^*" 

puffy rolls. His pockets were stuffed with some 
clothes he had brought with him. So he walked up 
Market Street with a roll under each arm and eating 
the other one. He must have looked very funny as 
he tramped along. 




BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 



97 



A young girl standing in a doorway laughed at 
him as he passed by. Her name Avas Deborah Head. 
Strange to say, some years after, she became his wife. 

120. Franklin as a Printer.— Franklin soon got 
work in a printer's office in rhiladelphia. It was 
not long before he had a 
printing shop of his own. 

He published a news- 
paper and a fa m o u s 
almanac. It was called 
'' Poor Eichard's Alman- 
ac." Franklin filled the 
almanac with his wise 
sayings. Almost every- 
body to-day knows some 
of these sayings : 

" Earhj to bed, early to rise, ntalvcs 

a man healthy, ivealthy a)id 

wise.'''' 
" Keep thy shop, and thy shop will 

heep thee. " 
" Heaven helps them that help 

themselves. " 

121. Franklin's Kite. 

— Franklin did many 

other useful things. He studied about electricity. He 

thought that lightning and electricity were the same 




Franklin's Kite Experiment. 



98 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



thing. To see whether he was right he made a kite 
out of a silk handkerchief. He fastened a pointed 

piece of wire to the 
top of the kite to 
draw the hghtning to 
it. 

One stormy night 
he flew his kite. He 
tied a key to the string 
and held the string by 
a silk thread. As a 
thunder cloud passed 
over the kite, he 
held his knuckles near 
the key. S p a r k s 
jumped from the key 
to his knuckle. He 
had proved that light- 
ning was only a kind 
of electricity. 

All over the world 

Franklin and his kite. 

the Lightning=Rod. — 

The 




statue of Franklin. 



people began to talk about 
122. Franklin Invents 

Franklin learned more than this from his kite, 
pointed wire on it had drawn the lightning from the 
clouds. Why not use a long pointed wire, thought 
he, to save a house from being struck by light- 



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 99 

ning. So he invented the hghtning rod. This made 
him more famous than ever. 

123. Other Things That Franklin Did. — It 

would take a large book to tell all that Franklin did. 
There were only open fire-places in those days, so 
Franklin invented a stove. 

The Philadelphia Library was started by him ; so 
was the University of Pennsylvania. 

He taught the people better ways to pave and 
light the streets. 

He started the first fire-engine company and the 
first hospital in Philadelphia. 

We have already learned how Franklin helped 
his country during the War for Independence. 
When the war was over, Franklin was one of the 
men who made the treaty of peace between England 
and the United States. 

124. Franklin Honored by the World Many 

of the thino'S Franklin did were useful to the whole 
world as well as to his own country. 

In 1906, two hundred years after he was born, 
his birthday was celebrated in both America and 
Europe. The world does not forget men like Ben- 
jamin Franklin. LOf C, 



CHATTER XVII. 

STEPHEN GIRARD. 

125. The War of 1812.— About thirty years after 
the War for Indepeiuleiice, another war broke out 
between England and the United States. It is gener- 
ally called the war of 1812 as it began in that year. 

The most important battles of this year were 
fought at sea. England had so many big w^arships 
that she was called Mistress of the Sea. The United 
States had a very small navy, but the American sail- 
ors were very good fighters. Our warships won 
many battles. 

126. The British Capture Washington Eng- 
land had so many more warships than the United 
States that they were able to do a great deal of harm 
to the towns along the sea coast. 

In the summer of 1814 the British landed from 
some of their ships in Chesapeake Bay. They 
marched to the city of Washington, the capital of the 
United States. They captured the city and set fire 
to many of the public buildings. The American 
army had lost some other land battles. It began to 
look bad for our country. 

100 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 



101 



127. Stephen Girard Lends Money to the United 
States. — The g-overiiment ^vas now badly in need of 
money for the Army and Navy. It tried to l)orrow a 
larg-e sum from the 

people, bnt nearly 
everybody was afraid 
to lend any money. 
There was one 
man who was willing 
to help. His name 
was Stephen Girard. 
He was one of the 
richest men in the 
United States. He 
loaned the govern- 
ment nearly five mil- 
lion dollars. With- 
out this money the 
United States might 
not have been able 
to carry on the war. 

128. Stephen 
Qirard's Early Life. 
— Stephen Girard had made his money by hard work 
and careful saving. The story of his life is interest- 
ing. He was born in France. As a boy lie did not 
have a very happy time. His step-mother treated 




statue of Stephen Girard. 



102 HISTORY PRIMER. 

him badly and his father was very strict with him. 
Stephen wanted to leave home and go to sea. 

He went on a ship as cabin boy when he was only 
fourteen years old. He worked hard and became a 
good sailor. He was made captain of a ship when 
he was only twenty-three years old. 

129. Qirard Becomes an American Citizen. He 
Grows Rich. — During the War for Independence 
Girard was captain of an American trading ship. He 
sailed up the Delaware River to escape being captured 
by British warships. He landed at Philadelphia. 
Here he sold his ship and opened a grocery store. 

Stephen (ifirard now became an American citizen, 
and lived in Philadelphia the rest of his life. He 
worked hard and saved his money. He became a 
ship builder and a great merchant. His ships traded 
in all parts of the world. He grew very rich. 

130. Girard a Kind=liearted Man Stephen 

Girard worked hard himself and made his servants 
and the people he employed work hard. Some 
thought he was a harsh master, but lie really had a 
kuid heart. He was fond of little children, and was 
kind to animals. 

When hundreds of people in Philadelphia were 
dying of yelloAV fever, it was hard to get anyone 
willing to nurse the sick. Most people who could 
afford it, left the city. But Stephen Girard did not 



STEPHEN GIRaRD. 



103 



run away. He gave his money and risked his own 
Kfe to save the sick. 

131. Girard College — When Stephen Girard died 
he left about six million dollars for a home where 
poor orphan boys might be taken care of and educated. 
This home is called Girard College. It is in Phila- 




Girard College. 

delphia. It has large grounds and many buildings. 
There is a hio;h stone wall all around it. Almost 
two thousand boys live there now. 

There is a fine statue of Stephen Girard near one 
of the entrances to City Hall, in Philadelphia. It 
was given to the city by some of the men who were 
educated in Girard College. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE STORY OF SLAVERY. 

132. How the Slaves were Treated. — When we 
were studying the story of Jamestown, we learned 
that about 300 years ago a number of negroes were 
brought to Virginia. They were not hired as servants, 
but were sold to the white settlers as slaves. 

Slaves were owned by their masters just as a horse 
or dog is. The slaves did not get wages for their 
work. They were fed and clothed by their masters, 
and were given rough cabins or huts to live in. They 
were bought and sold, or exchanged by their owners 
just as horses are today. 

Many of the slaves had kind owners, but some 
had cruel masters, who beat them and made them 
work too hard. 

133. How the Slaves were Brought to America. 
— Where did these slaves come from 1 They were 
brought from Africa. They were not even asked 
whether they wanted to leave their homes. They 
were captured or were bought by the slave traders 
from the chiefs of the negro tribes. 

The slaves were huddled together like animals in 

104 



THE STOKY OF SLAVERY. 



105 



the hold of a ship, 
were iioiii": nor what 
they reached 
America the 
slave-traders 
sold them to 
the white 
settlers. 

Thousands 
of negro slaves 
were brought 
to America in 




They did not know where they 
was to become of them. When 



LATELY imported in the 
Sloop j^u/>ufui Cdjar^ very likely 
Negro Men, Boys and Girls, Rum, 
Sugar and MolaiTes, to be Sold very 
reafonable by John Inglis. 

Alfo Choice good Aiad.eira Winc at 
^ iS per Pipe for ready Money. 



To be SOLD, 

BY Benjamin Fender at Dtnnit 
Ratchj .d's in Market -jlreet, near the IJigo 
of the IncUan King, fevtral Ncgroe Mcn» 
Women and tioy>, at a very reafonable Price 
for Bread, Flower, &€. 




this way. By 
the time the 
War for Inde- 
pendence be- 
gan there were ^l jfX ^ V 




Lately improtcd from Antigua 

and to be Sold by Edward Jones in 
Ifacc Norris'j Afley. 

APARCFLof likely Ne. 
gro Women &Girls from thirteen 
^ to one and twenty Ycari of age, and have 

slaves in all ^" '^^^»''^^"^'"^**-^°^ 

the colonies ^^'^ Advertisement of Slaves for Sale. 

Some were used as house servants, but most of them 
worked upon the farms. 

134. The Invention of the Cotton Gin — Soon 
after the United States became free from England, 
something happened that made the people of the 
southern states want more slaves. 

A vouno- man named Eli Whitnev invented the 
cotton gin. This was a machine for separating the 



106 



HISTORY PRIMER. 




seed from the raw cotton of the cotton plant. Before 
Whitney invented the cotton gin, this work had to 
be done by hand. It was very slow and tedious. 
It took a man a whole day to pick the seeds from a 
pound of raw cotton. With the help of the cotton 

gin, the seeds could be 
cleaned out of 1000 pounds 
of cotton in a day. 

]\Iuch more cotton was 
then raised and the people 
of the south thought they 
needed the slaves in the 
cotton fields more than 
ever. 

135. People of the North Against Slavery — 
Most people living in the northern states thought it 
was wrong to keep slaves. They believed that every 
man should be free, no matter wliat the color of his 
skin was. The people of the south needed the 
negroes on their cotton plantations and most of them 
were not willino: to set the slaves free. 

The states in the north wliere they had no slaves, 
were called free states. The states in the south were 
called slave states. 

The slaves were sometimes treated so cruelly that 
they would run away. Tlie people of the north 
would then hide them in their houses and help them 



First Cotton Gin. 



thp: story of slavery. 



107 



to escape. Some of the runaway slaves had deep 
scars upon then* bodies which showed how terribly 
they had 
been beaten. 
The north- 
ern people 
were angry 
because they 
thought the 
slaves were 
treated so 
badly. The 
southern 
people were 
angry be- 
cause the 
people of the 
north helped 
the slaves to run away. 

130. '* Uncle Tom's Cabin." — A northern Avonian 
named Mrs. Stowe, wrote a book called '' Uncle 
Tom's Cabin." It was all about the slaves and their 
cruel masters. 

Hundreds of thousands of people read this book. 
Nearly everybody was talking about " Uncle Tom," 
''Topsy" and ''little Eva." The northern people 
who read the book now felt quite sure that all 




Picking Cotton. 



108 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



slavery was wrong. They were ready to do almost 

anything to free the slaves. 

137. War Between the North and the South. 

The Slaves Set Free There were many bitter 

quarrels between the 
north and south about 
slavery. The southern 
states wanted to leave the 
Union and have a govern- 
ment of their own. They 
thought they had the 
right to do this. They 
were afraid the United 
States Government would 
make them set the slaves 
free. The northern states 

did not believe any one had the right to break up 

the Union. 

At last war broke out between the north and 

south. It was a long and bloody struggle. After 

four years fighting, the terrible Civil war came to an 

end. The south was defeated, and the Union was 

saved. 

Soon after the close of the war, a law was passed 

which made all the slaves free. 




Harriet Beecher Sto-wre. 



CHATTER XIX. 



THE STORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



Ill telling the story of 



138. President Lincoln. 

slavery a ii cl the 
Civil War Ave did 
not mention the 
name of the man 
who did more than 
anybody else to 
give the slaves 
their freedom. This 
great m an was 
Abraham Lincoln. 
He was President 
of the United States 
during the war. 

Lincoln's life 
should be studied 
by every school 
boy. It shows how 

even a poor boy, by Abraham Lincoln. 

hard Avork and honesty, may reach the highest posi- 
tion in our land. 

109 




110 



HISTORY PRIMER. 




Lincoln's Early Home. 



139. Early Life of Lincoln.— Abraham Lincoln 

was bom about one huudred years ago on an out-of-the- 
way Httle farm in Ken- 
tucky. The house his 
parents lived in was 
only a rough shanty. 
When Abraham was 
"''^ '■ seven y ears old the 
family moved to 
Indiana. Here they 
chopped down trees and 
built a log cabin to 

live in. Little Abe helped all he could. 

Their furniture was home-made. It was rudely 

put together out of logs and 

sticks. On the floor in a cor- 
ner of the room was a bi": 

bag stuffed with leaves. This 

was Abe's bed. 

140. Lincoln at School. 

How He Taught Himself. — 

T h e r e was a little log 

school house a long way 

from Abe's home. It was 

kept open only a few 

months of the year. Abe 

went to this school as 







Lincoln Learning- to use an Axe. 



THE STORY OF AfJRAHAM LINCOLN. 



Ill 



iSmila 



=s3(3SL 



often as lie could. Here lie learned to read and 
write. 

Schools in those days were not very good, and the 
teachers themselves did not know much. 

Abe studied hard at home and learned more there 
than he did in school. 
He did not have paper 
and pens to work 
with so he Avrote 
upon a big wooden 
shovel, using a piece 
of charcoal for a pen- 
cil. He had to clean 
the shovel off when 
h e needed a fresh 
place to Avrite on. 

During the day 
he worked hard up- 
on the Httle farm. Lmcom studying at Night. 

He studied at night by the light of the burning logs 
in the open fireplace. 

141. The Books Lincoln Read — Abe had very few 
books, but he read them until he knew whole pages 
by heart. One of these books was a story of the 
life of Geoi'o^e Washino-ton. It was oiven to Abe as 
pay for work that he had done upon a neighbor's farm. 

Some of the other books he read and studied were 




112 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



" Kobiiison Crusoe," " History of the United States," 

*' ^sop's Fables," "Pilgrim's Progress," and the 

Bible. 

Young Abraham Lincoln soon became known as 

the smartest boy in the 
neighborhood. 

142. Lincoln the Rail 
Splitter. — Young Lincoln 
grew fast. When he was 
nineteen years old he was 
six feet four inches tall. 
His out door life made 
him strong and healthy. 
He could lift as much as 
two ordinary men. 

He was a tine woods- 
man. He used to chop 
down trees and split logs 
into rails for rail fences. 
He earned his living^ for 
a while as a farm-hand 
and rail sphtter. 
143. Honest Abe. — Lincoln was noted not only 

for his size and strength. He also became famous for 

his honesty. 

When he was twenty-one years old, he got a 

position to tend a country store. He treated the 




Lincoln Splitting- Rails. 



THE STORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 113 

customers well and soon became known for his 
fair dealing. 

One time a woman by mistake paid liim a few 
cents too much. That evening', after the store was 
closed, Lincoln walked all the way to the woman's 
house, a distance of three miles, to pay the money 
back to her. This was only one of the many tliiugs 
that Lincoln did that made the people call him 
'' Honest Abe." 

144. Lincoln Becomes a Lawyer Lincoln had 

to work hard for a living, but he always found time 
to study. After a Avhile he began to study law-books, 
as he wanted to be a lawyer. 

Before he was thirty years old, he had been elected 
to the Illinois Legislature — the place where the laws 
are made for the state, and he was practicing law for 
a living. 

People were anxious to hire him as their lawyer 
because they knew he was honest and they could 
believe what he said. 

145. Lincoln's Kind Heart. The Story of the 
Pig — The people liked Lincoln not only because he 
was honest, but also because he was kind hearted. He 
was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone 
in trouble. He was kind even to dumb animals. The 
story of Lincoln and the pig is often told. 

One day as Lincoln was driving to the court-house 



! 



114 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



he heard a loud squeahng. Looking around he 
noticed a pig which had fallen into a mud hole. The 

trying 



w a s 




hard to get out, 
but fell back every 
time. Lincoln felt 
like helping the 
})oor animal but 
he was wearino* a 
new suit of clothes, 
and he was afraid 

Lincoln and the Pig-. ^.p gpoilillP" It 

He drove on, but the thought of the poor pig 
bothered him. At last he turned back and pulled 
the pig out of the mud hole. He had to go to court 
that day with his clothes all S2:)attered witli mud. But 
his mind was at rest. 

146. Lincoln Elected President Abraham Lin- 
coln became so famous as a lawyer that the people 
sent him to Congress, the place where laws are made 
for the whole nation. 

At this time the whole country was excited about 
slavery. Lincoln made many great speeches against 
slavery. He was now so famous that the Republican 
party wanted him to be the President of the United 
States. In 1860 he was elected President. 

The poor rail-splitter had at last reached the 



THE 8T0KY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 115 

highest position that any man in this comitiy can 
hold. 

147. Lincoln Saves the Union — Soon after Lin- 
cohi was elected President, the great Civil War broke 
out between the north and south. 

The people of the south wanted to have a sepa- 
rate government of their own. But Lincoln thought 
that the Union should not be broken and that it was 
his duty to hold the United States together. 

The President was commander-in-chief of the 
army and navy. During the four terrible years of 
this bloody war, Lincoln proved himself to be a great 
and powerful leader. He always seemed to know the 
best thing to do. 

148. Lincoln Frees the Slaves — During the war 
Lincoln set free all the slaves in the states that were 
fighting against the Union. After the close of the 
war all the rest of the slaves were set free. 

Lincoln had saved the Union and rid our country 
of slavery. 

149. The Death of Abraham Lincoln The war 

had hardly ended when a terrible thing happened. 
While President Lincoln was sitting in a theater 
quietly watching the play, he was suddenly shot 
through the head by a man named Booth. 

The murderer thought tliat in this way the south 
could get revenge for its defeat. Booth was shot 



116 



HISTORY PRIMER 




Lincoln's Statue. 



by soldiers while he was 
trying to make his es- 
cape. 

T h e whole country, 
south a s well a s north, 
mourned the death of 
President Lincoln. Even 
those wdio did not agree 
with him loved him for 
his kindness of h e a r t 
and his great honesty. 

Next t o Washington, 
many people think Abra- 
ham Lincoln was the great- 
est of Americans. 



CHAPTEK XX. 

MEMORIAL DAY. 

150. Memorial Day and What it Means. — In 

almost every state in the Union there is a hoUday 
called Memorial Day. This holiday is set aside to 
honor the memory of the soldiers who fought in the 
civil war. 

In the north, Memorial Day is kept on May 30th. 
In the south it is ten days earlier, May 2()th. Spring- 
is then at its heio-ht. The weather is usuallv warm 
and pleasant, the grass is green, and tlie flowers are 
in bloom. 

151. At the Soldiers' Graves — On ^Memorial 
Day, companies of soldiers parade to the cemeteries 
where their former comrades lie buried. Each 
soldier's grave is marked with a little flag. Bands 
play solemn music. Speeches are made telling about 
tlie brave deeds of the soldiers. Prayers are said, 
and muskets are flred in salute over the soldiers' 
graves. 

The most beautiful })art of Memorial Day services 
is the placing of flowers upon the graves of the 
soldiers. Great crowds of people attend the services 

117 



118 HISTORY PRIMER. 

in the cemeteries and help to decorate the graves. 
This is the reason this holiday was at first called 
Decoration Day. But Memorial Day is the better 
name, because the services are held in memory of 
the dead soldiers. 

152. Memorial Day Exercises in the Schools. — 
In most cities, schools are closed on Memorial Day, so 
that the children may also help to decorate the graves. 

The day before the holiday, old soldiers some- 
times visit the schools and make speeches to the 
pupils. They tell them interesting stories about the 
battles they were in and what they themselves saw 
durino; the Civil War. ( )ld time war sono-s and other 
patriotic songs are sung by the children. 

In many schools, flowers are brought Ijy the pupils 
to be used in decorating the soldiers' graves. Some- 
times several Avagon loads of flowers are taken from 
a siup-le school. 

153. How Memorial Day Began. — The first 
Memorial Day was held May .'](), 18G8, three years 
after the close of the Civil War. 

A society had been formed by many of the soldiers 
who had fought for the Union during this war. This 
society was called the Grand Army of the Iiepublic. 
General John A. Logan was chosen as the head 
of the G. A. Ii. He sent out an order for the first 
Memorial Day to the members of the G. A. R. in 



MEMOKIAL DAY. 



119 




all parts of the coantiy. Afterwards in the difFerent 
states, Memorial Day was made a legal holiday. 

It is said that a German soldier in the Union army 
fi r s t suo-o-ested Memorial 
Day. He wrote a letter to 
one of General L o g a n' s 
officers, telling him of the 
custom in Germany of dec- 
orating the soldiers' graves 
every spring. He thought 
it would be a o-ood idea to 
have this beautiful custom 
in America. General Logan 
also thouo;ht this a beautiful 

way to honor the dead ; so General Logan. 

he issued the order for the first Memorial Day. 

154. What Memorial Day Teaches. — We should 
all be thankful that we have Memorial Day. We 
can learn many good lessons from it. Tt calls to our 
memory the noble actions of the soldiers who risked 
their lives for the sake of their country. 

It helps to teach us that we also should love our 
country, and be ready to help it whenever we are 
called upon to do so. In war times we may have to 
fight for our country's sake and even die for it. In 
times of peace we can serve our country by being 
good citizens, and by leading honest, upright lives. 



CHAPTEE XXI. 



OLD WAYS AND NEW. 



155. Our Times Better Than the *'Good Old 
Times." — We often hear about " the good okl tunes." 
Perhaps if we had to hve as people did in those days 
Ave should not find them so pleasant. We are sure 
that we can do many things better and more quickly 

to-day than people could in 
olden times. 

A poor man today can 
live more comfortably than 
a rich man could in the 
olden times. He does not 
have to go to a well or 
pump to get water. All he 
has to do is to turn on a 
spigot in his liouse. 
In the daily newspapers he can read what is hap- 
pening in all parts of the world. 

Wlien the great earthquake destroyed nearly the 
whole city of San Francisco, the news was printed 
all over the world the same day. In a very short 

120 




Old-time Well. 



OLD WAYS AND NEW. 



121 



time railroad trains and steamships were loaded with 
food, clothing-, tents and ])edding', and hurried to the 
relief of the homeless people. If such a thing had 
happened in the olden days when there was no tele- 
graph nor railroad, thousands of people would have 
died for want of help. 

We will now learn about some of the chanires 
that have bei^n made in the last two hundred years. 




Open Fireplace and Spinning-'wheel. 



150. Heating. — Tn colonial days, stoves were 
hardly ever seen. Most of the houses had large, 
open fireplaces. The logs burning in the hre- 



122 



HISTORY PRI]\IER. 



place made a cheerful blaze, but they did not 

heat the room well. Most of the heat went up the 

chimney. 

The open fireplace Avas also used for cooking. 

The pot or kettle was hung upon an iron crane that 

swung over the burning wood. 

The Franklin stove, invented 
by Benjamin Franklin, was one 
of the hrst used. For a long 
time, only wood was burned in 
the stoves. The first load of hard 
coal was brought to Philadelphia 
about one hundred years ago. It 
was some years before people 
learned how to use coal. To-day 

coal is burned in almost every home for cooking 

and heating. 

Many buildings nowadays are heated in Ijetter 

ways. Steam or hot water is sent through pipes to 

radiators in all parts of the 

house. How different from the 

log fires of olden times ! 

157. Lighting. — In colonial 

dai^s they did not have gas or 

electricity for lighting. On 

winter evenings the blazing logs ^^^ ^^^ °^ Getting a Lierht. 

of the open fireplace gave light as well as warmth. 




Hand Printing- Px-ess. 




OLD WAYS AND NP^W. 



123 



Candles and lamps Avere also nsed. Whale oil was 
bnrned in the lam|)S. There were no niatehes. Fire 
was started with the old-fashioned tinder-box, flint 
and steel. 

The streets and roads were very dark. People 
had to carry lanterns at nig-ht. 

Millions of matches are now used every year. 




Modern Printing Press. 

We would not know how to get along without them. 
We still sometimes use candles and lamps, but most 
of our lighting is done by gas and electricity. 

City streets are lighted brightly at night by large 
electric lights. There is no longer any need of 
carrying lanterns, as there was years ago. 

158. Machinery. — Tn olden times almost every- 



124 



HISTORY PRIMER. 



thing was made by hand. To-day ahnost everything 
is made by machinery. (Jf course things can be 
made much faster by machinery. To make a pin by 
hand woukl take a lon^j: time. To-dav there is a 
machine that will turn out thousands of pins in a 




Interior of a Mill. 



very short time, all ])olished, pointed, and placed 
neatly in rows in paper packages, ready to be sold. 

Newspapers and books used to be printed by 
means of hand presses. It was slow, hard work. 
Benjamin Franklin used a hand press. 

To-day steam presses turn out books and papers 
faster than a man can count them. We wonder what 



OLD WAYS AND NEW. 



125 



Benjamin Franklin would think if he could see a big- 
steam press printing, cutting, folding, and counting 
the large newspapers of to-daj. He would probably 
feel like praising the good new times instead of the 
" good old times." 

In the ohl days there was a spinning-wdieel in 
almost every home. The women spun the w ool into 
thread, and the cloth was woven by hand. Men 
dressed in coarse, homespun clothes in those days. 
To-day the spinning and weaving are done by 
machinery in large mills. 

159. Travel. — Years ago, travel was slow and 
dangerous. Out- 
side of the towns 
and cities, people 
generally went 
u p o n horseback 
because the roads 
were not o-ood 
enough for car- 
riages. 

There w e r e 
some good roads 
c n n e c ting the 
hxrger towns and 
cities. The old- 
fashioned stage- Early Travel on Horseback. 




126 



HISTORY PKIMER. 



coach was used on these roads. It took three days 
or more to go from Philadelphia to New York in this 
way. To-day an express train makes the trip in 
about two hours. 

The steam locomotive was first used in America 
about seventy-live years ago. All the cities and most 




Old Stage-coach and Inn. 

of the small towns are now connected by lines of 
railroad. 

Electricity is also used to make cars go. To-day 
there are trolley cars in almost every little town. 
We may live to see the day when electricity will be 



OLD WAYS AND NEW. 127 

used instead of steam on all railroads. Automobiles 
are being used more and more. The time may come 




Electric Car. 



when it will be a rare sight to see a carriage drawn 
by a horse. 

Travel on Avater has also changed very much since 
colonial days. In those days, row-boats and sail- 
boats were used. Sometimes people made long 
journeys in canal-boats. Traveling was slow and 
uncomfortable. 

About a hundred years ago the steand^oat was 
invented by Robert Fulton. The people Avere sur- 
prised, and many were scared, Avhen they hrst saw 
Fulton's boat steaming up the Hudson River. 

Soon steamboats Avere being built in many parts 
of the country. At first they Avere used only on the 
rivers and lakes. To-day large steamships built of 
steel cross the ocean and go to all parts of the 



128 



HISTORY PKIMER. 



world. Some of these ships are so large that they 
can carry three or four thousand passengers. 




-^«» — m^ ^-r ^J 



Old Print of First Railroad Train. 



Steamships are safer, faster, and much more 
comfortable than the old-fashioned sailing vessels. 




Modern Express Train. 

100. Communication, Letters and Messages. — 

In colonial davs, messag^es had to be carried from 
one place to another. There Avas no other way of 
sending them. As travel was slow, it took a long 
time for messages to be delivered. 



OLD WAYS AND NEW. 



129 




Automobile. 



The slow old stao;e-coaches were used for carrying 
mail. The people in Philadelphia would not know 
what was happening in 
Boston until a week or 
more after it had taken 
place. 

Sometimes very im- 
portant messages were 
sent by men on horse- 
back called couriers. 
Even such messengers 
were slow compared with 
the railroads and steam- 
ships of to-day. 




Courier. 



130 HISTORY PRIMER. 

Although raih'oads and steamships carry the 




Travel by Canal-boat. 



mail very quickly, we now have quicker ways of 
sending- messages. 

Nearly seventy years ago Professor Morse found 




Modern Steamship. 



OLD WAYS AND NEW. 



131 




Old Print of Steamboat. 



a -way to send messages along wires by means of 
electricity. His invention is called the telegraph. 
The message travels as 
fast as lio:litnino\ 

To-day telegraph 
poles and wires maybe 
seen all over the conn- 
try. Wire cables have 
even been laid along 
the bed of the ocean from continent to continent. 
Important new^s is telegrai)lied all over the world, 
so that it is known everywhere almost as soon as it 
happens. 

The telephone is another wonderful invention. 

It is better than the telegraph because you 

can talk to })eo})le many miles away and 

hear their answers at once. 

People nowadays have become so used 

to the telephone and telegraph that they 

Telephone, w O U 1 d UOt 

know how to get 



along without them. 
We w o u 1 d find it 
h a r d to g(3 b a c k 
to the days of the 
courier and the 
stage-coach. 





Telegraph Inbtrurauat. 



APPENDIX. 



PATRIOTIC SELECTIONS. 

PAUL REVERE'S RIDE. 

Listen, my children, and you shall hear 

Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, 

On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy -Five : 

Hardly a man is now alive 

Who remembers that famous day and year. 

He said to his friend — " If the British march 

By laud or sea from the town to-night, 

Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch 

Of the North Church tower, as a signal-light— 

One if by land, and two if by sea ; 

And I on the opposite shore will be, 

Ready to ride and spread the alarm 

Through every Middlesex village and farm. 

For the country-folk to be up and to arm." 

Then he said good-night, and with muffled oar 
Silently rowed to the Charlestown shore. 
Just as the moon rose over the bay, 
Where swinging wide at her moorings lay 
The Somerset, British man-of-war : 
A phantom ship, with each mast and spar 
Across the moon like a prison bar, 



APPENDIX. 

And a huge, black hulk, that was magnified 
By its own reflection in the tide. 

Meanwhile his friend, through alley and street, 
Wanders and watches with eager ears, 
Till in the silence around him he hears 
The muster of men at the barrack-door, 
The sound of arms, and the tramp of feet. 
And the measured tread of the grenadiers 
Marching down to their boats on the shore. 

Then he climbed the tower of the old North Church, 

Up the wooden stairs, with stealthy tread. 

To the belfry-chamber overhead. 

And startled the pigeons from their perch 

On the sombre rafters, that round him made 

Masses and moving shapes of shade — 

By the trembling ladder, stee}) and tall. 

To the highest window in the wall, 

Where he paused to listen and look down 

A moment on the roofs of the quiet town. 

And the moonlight flowing over all. 



Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride. 

Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride, 

On the opposite shore walked Paul Revere. 

Now he patted his horse's side, 

Now gazed on the landscape far and near, 

Then impetuous stamped the earth, 

And turned and tightened his saddle-girth ; 

But mostly he watched with eager search 

The belfry-tower of the old North Church, 

As it rose above the graves on the hill. 

Lonely, and spectral, and sombre, and still. 



PATRIOTIC SE LE( :T I ( )NS. 

Aud lo ! as he looks, ou the belfry's height 

A glimraer, aud then a gleam of light ! 

He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns, 

But lingers and gazes, till full on his sight 

A second lamp in the belfry burns ! 

A hurry of hoofs in the village street, 

A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark, 

And beneath from the pebbles, in passing, a spark 

Struck out by a steed flying fearless and fleet : 

That was all ! And yet, through the gloom aud the light, 

The fate of a nation was riding that night ; 

And the spark struck out by that steed, in his flight, 

Kindled the land into flame with its heat. 

* * * * * * 

You know the rest. In the liooks you have read 
How the British regulars fired aud fled — 
How the farmers gave them ball for ball, 
From behind each fence aud farm-yard wall, 
Chasing the red-coats down the lane, 
Then crossing the fields to emerge again 
Under the trees at the turn of the road, 
Aud only pausing to fire and load. 

So through the night rode Paul Revere ; 

And so through the night went his cry of alarm 

To every Middlesex village and farm — 

A cry of defiance, aud not of fear — 

A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, 

And a word that shall echo for evermore ! 

For, borue on the night-wind of the Past, 

Through all our history, to the last. 

In the hour of darkness, and peril, and need. 

The people will waken and listen to hear 

The harrying hoof-beats of that steed. 

And the midnight message of Paul Revere. 

— Longfellow. 



iv APPENDIX. 

CONCORD HYMN. 

By the rude bridge that arched the flood, 
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, 

Here once the embattled farmers stood, 

And flred the shot heard round the world. 

The foe long since in silence slept; 

Alike the conqueror silent sleeps ; 
And Time the ruined bridge has swept 

Down the dark stream which seaward creeps. 

On this green bank, by this soft stream. 

We set to-day a votive stone, 
That memory may their deed redeem 

When, like our sires, our sons are gone. 

Spirit that made those heroes dare 
To die or leave their children free, 

Bid Time and Nature gently spare 
The shaft we raise to them and thee. 

— Ralph Waldo Emerson. 



INDEPENDENCE BELL. 

There was tumult in the city, 

In the quaint old Quaker town. 
And the streets were rife with people 

Pacing restless up and down ; 
People gathering at corners, 

Where they whispered each to each. 
And the sweat stood on their temples. 

With the earnestness of speech. 
* * * * 

"Will they do it?" "Dare they do it?" 

"Who is speaking?" "What's the news?" 
" What of Adams ? " " What of Sherman ?" 

" O, God grant thev won't refuse ! " 



PATKIOTIC SELECTIONS. 

"Make some way, there!" "Let me iicaivr ! 

" I am stitliiig ! " — " Stifle, then : 
When a nation's life's at hazard. 

We've no time to think of men!" 

* •:•!• * * 

Aloft in that high steeple 

Sat the l)ellman, old and gray ; 
He was weary of the tyrant 

And his iron-sceptered sway ; 
So he sat with one hand ready 

On the clapper of the bell, 
When his eye should catch the signal, 

Very happy news to tell. 

See ! see ! the dense crowd quivers 

Through all its lengthy line, 
As the boy beside the portal 

Looks forth to give the sign ! 
With his small hands upward lifted, 

Breezes dallying with his hair. 
Hark ! with dee[), clear intonation, 

Breaks his young voice on the air. 

Hushed the people's swelling murmur, 

List the boy's strong joyous cry ! 
" Ring ! " he shouts aloud ; " ring ! Grandpa ! 

Ring ! O, ring for Liberty ! " 
And straightway, at the signal. 

The old bellman lifts his hand. 
And sends the good news, making 

Iron music through the land. 

How they shouted ! What rejoicing ! 

How the old liell shook the air, 
Till the clang of freedom ruffled 

The calm o;liding Delaware ! 



vi APPENDIX. 

How the bonfires and the torches 

Illumed the night's repose, 
And from the flames, like Phojuix, 

Fair Liberty arose ! 

That old bell now is silent, 

And hushed its iron tongue, 
But the spirit it awakened 

Still lives — forever young. 
And while we greet the sunlight 

On the Fourth of each July, 
We'll ne'er forget the bellman. 

Who, 'twixt the earth and sky, 
Rung out our Independence, 

Which, please God, shall never die ! 

— Anonymous. 

INDEPENDENCE. 

Day of glory, welcome day. 
Freedom's banners greet thy ray ; 
See, how cheerfully they play 

With thy morning breeze. 
On the rocks where pilgrims kneeled. 
On the heights where squadrons wheeled. 
When a tyrant's thunder pealed 

O'er the trembling seas. 
* * * * 

God of peace, whose spirit fills 
All the echoes of our hills. 
All the murmurs of our rills, 

Now the storm is o'er, 
Oh, let freemen be our sons, 
And let future Washingtons 
Rise, to lead their valiant ones. 
Till there's war no more. - 



PATRIOTIC SELECTIONS. 

By the patriot's hallowed rest, 
By the warrior's gory breast, 
Never let our graves be pressed 

By a despot's throne ; 
By the pilgrims' toil and cares, 
By their battles and their prayers, 
By their ashes, let our heirs 

Bow to Thee alone. 

— John Pierpont. 



SONG OF MARION'S MEN. 

Our band is few, but true and tried, our leader frank and boh 
The British soldier trembles when Marion's name is told. 
Our fortress is the good greenwood, our tent the cypress-tree : 
We know the forest round us, as seamen know the sea ; 
We know its walls of thorny vines, its glades of reedy grass, 
Its safe and silent islands within the dark morass. 



Woe to the English soldiery that little dread us near ! 
On them shall light at midnight a strange and sudden fear; 
When, waking to their tents on fire, they grasp their arms in vain, 
And they who stand to face us are beat to earth again ; 
And they who fly in terror deem a mighty host behind. 
And hear the tramp of thousands upon the hollow wind. 



Then sweet tlie hour that brings release from danger and from toil ! 
We talk the battle over, and share the battle's spoil ; 
The woodland rings with laugh and shout, as if a hunt were up. 
And woodland flowers are gathered to crown the soldier's cup, 
With merry songs we mock the wind that in the pine-top grieves, 
And slumber long and sweetly on beds of oaken leaves. 



APPENDIX. 

Well knows the fair and friendly moon the band that Marion leads, - 
The glitter of their rifles, the scampering of their steeds. 
'Tis life to guide the fiery barb across the moonlit plain; 
'Tis life to feel the night-wind that lifts his tossing mane : 
A moment in the British camp, — a moment, and away 
Back to the pathless forest before the peep of day. 

Grave men there are by broad Santee, grave men with hoary hairs, - 
Their hearts are all with Marion, for Marion are their prayers. 
And lovely ladies greet our band with kindliest welcoming, 
With smiles like those of summer and tears like those of spring. 
For them we wear these trusty arms, and lay them down no more. 
Till we have driven the Briton for ever from our shore. 

— Bryant. 



THE AMERICAN FLAG. 

When Freedom from her mountain height 
Unfurl' d her standard to the air, 

She tore the azure robe of night. 
And set the stars of glory there. 

She mingled with its gorgeous dyes 
The milky baldric of the skies. 
And striped its pure celestial white, 
With streakings of the morning light; 
Then, from his mansion in the sun 
She called her eagle-bearer down, 
And gave into his mighty hand 
The symbol of her chosen land. 

* * * * 

Flag of the free heart's hope and home. 
By angel hands to valor given, 

Thy stars have lit the welkin dome, 
And all thy hues were born in heaven. 



PATKIOTIC SELF.CTIONS. ix 

Forever float that standard sheet! 

Where breathes the foe but falls before us, 
With Freedom's soil beneath our feet, 

And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us? 

— J. Rodman Drake. 



THE STAR=SPANQLED BANNER. 

Oh ! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light. 

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, 
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, 
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? 
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air. 
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. 
Oh ! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? 

On the shore, dimly seen through the mist of the deep. 

Where the foe 's haughty host in dread silence reposes ; 
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep. 
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? 

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam ; 
In full glory reflected, now shines in the stream ; 
'Tis the star-spangled banner; oh! long may it wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ! 

And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore. 
Mid the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, 
A home and a country should leave us no more? 

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. 
No refuge could save the hireling and slave 
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave ; 
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave. 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ! 



APPENDIX. 

Oh! thus be it ever, when tree nieu shall stand 

Between our lov'd home and the war's desolation ! 
Blest with victory and peace, may the Heav'n rescued laud 
Praise the Power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation ! 
Then conquer we must when our cause it is just; 
And this be our motto, " In God is our trust ; " 

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ! 

— Francis Scott Key. 



UNION AND LIBERTY. 

Flag of the heroes who left us their glory, 

Borne through their battle-iields' thunder and flame, 
Blazoned in song and illumined in story. 
Wave o'er us all who inherit their fame ! 
Up with our banner bright. 
Sprinkled with starry light. 
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore, 
While through the sounding sky 
Loud rings the Nation's cry, — 
Union and Liberty ! One Evermore ! 

* ***** 

Lord of the Universe, shield us and guide us. 

Trusting Thee always, through shadow and suu. 
Thou hast united us, who shall divide us? 
Keep us, O, keep us the Many in One ! 
Up with our banner bright. 
Sprinkled with starry starry light. 
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore, 
While through the sounding sky 
Loud rings the Nation's cry, — 
Union and Liberty ! One Evermore ! 

— 0. W. Holmes. 



PATEIOTIC SELECTIONS. xi 

ODE FOR DECORATION DAY. 

Flowers for the mourned ones, fresh in their bloom, 

Gifts of the grateful, brighten their tomb. 

Sing the glad anthems, loved they so well ; 

Speak of their loyalty, deeds of theirs tell ; 
Visit each grave with a floral oblation ; 
Leave, where they slumber, love's sweet decoration ! 

Tears for the l)rave ones, fallen in strife, 

Liberty's martyrs, giving their life ! 

Patriot soldiers, loving their land, 

Hasting to battle, — heroes so grand ! 
Honor their memories on History's pages ; 
Build for them monuments lasting through ages ! 

Dirges for brothers sleeping in death ! 

Faced they the cannon's sulphurous breath ; 

Feared not the foeman, never would yield ; 

Bled for their country, died on the field ! 
Precious their offering, — let it be cherished ; 
Gratitude give them, for nobly they perished ! 

Fame for the true hearts, true to the flag, 

Strong for the Union, firm as a crag ! 

Fireblast of battle, missies of lead. 

Turned them not backward, laying them dead ! 
Deeds of such daring with earth's choicest are blended. 
Long as the flag waves, so bravely defended ! 

Garlands unfading give to our braves ; 

Flowers immortal bloom on their graves ! 

Veteran warriors, young hearts and bold, 

Foremost in conflict, — silent and cold ! 
Memory keeps and rehearses their story ; 
Die not their names, star-lighted with glory ! 



xii APPENDIX. 

Rest for the martyred, — rest iu the grave; 

Thunders of battle wake uot the brave; 

War-drum aud shouting, musketry's roar, 

Rolling loud o'er them, heeded no more! 
Peace that they fought for came to us timely; 
Freedom they died for triumphed sublimely. 

— S. Drayton Phelps. 



THE PATRIOT DEAD. 

Breathe balmy airs, ye fragrant flowers, 

O'er every silent sleeper's head ; 
Ye crystal dews and summer showei's, 

Dress in fresh green each lowly bed. 

Strew loving offerings o'er the brave, 

Their country's joy, their country's pride ; 

For us their precious lives they gave. 
For freedom's sacred cause they died. 

Each cherished name its place shall hold, 
Like stars that gem the azure sky ; 

Their deeds, on history's page enrolled, 
Are sealed for immortality. 

Long, where on glory's fields they fell, 
May Freedom's spotless banner wave, 

And fragrant tributes grateful tell 

Where live the free, where sleep the brave. 

— Samuel Francis Smith. 



DEATH OF LINCOLN. 

Oh, slow to smite and swift to spare, 
Gentle and merciful and just ! 

Who, in fear of God. did'st bear 

The sword of power, a nation's trust. 



PATRIOTIC SKLKC'TIONS. 

In sorrow by thy bier we stand, 

Amid the awe that hushes all, 
And speak the anguish of a land 

That shook with horror at thy fall. 

Thy task is done. The bond are free. 

We bear thee to an honored grave, 
Whose proudest mouuiuent shall be 

The broken fetters of the slave. 

Pure was thy life. Its bloody close 

Hath placed thee with the sons of light. 

Among the noble host of those 

Who perished in the cause of Right. 

— William Cullen Bryant. 



AMERICA. 

My country, 'tis of thee 
Sweet land of liberty, 
Of thee I sing; 
Land where my fathers died. 
Land of the Pilgrims' pride. 
From every mountain side, 
Let freedom ring! 

My native country, thee. 
Land of the noble free. 
Thy name I love; 
I love thy rocks and rills, 
Thy woods and templed hills; 
My heart with rapture thrills, 
Like that above. 



10 



xiv APPENDIX. 

Let music swell the breeze, 
And riug from all the ti*ees 
Sweet Freedom's soug; 
Let mortal tongues awake, 
Let all that breathe partake, 
Let rocks their silence break, 
The sound prolong. 

Our fathers' God to Thee, 
Author of li])erty, 

To Thee we sing; 
Long may our land be bright 
With Freedom's holy light; 
Protect us by Thy might, 

Great God our King ! 

— Samuel Francis Smith. 



OCT 16 t906 



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